mop

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈmäp 

1

: an implement made of absorbent material fastened to a handle and used especially for cleaning floors

2

: something that resembles a mop

especially : a thick mass of hair

mop

2 of 3

verb

mopped; mopping

transitive verb

1

: to use a mop on

specifically : to clean or clear away by mopping

mop the floors

—often used with up

mop up the spillage

2

: to wipe as if with a mop

mopped his brow with a handkerchief

intransitive verb

: to clean a surface (such as a floor) with a mop

mopper noun

mopper

3 of 3

noun (2)

mop·​per

ˈmäpə(r)

plural -s

: one that mops

specifically : one that wipes or polishes

Examples of mop in a Sentence

Verb

He mopped the sweat from his brow.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale is officially done, but these robot vacuum and mop deals are still cleaning up. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026

Charismatic, handsome and crowned with a mop of curly dark-blond hair, Gortner springboarded from his appearance in the documentary to a prolific acting career that included roles in 15 feature films and more than 20 TV series. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Verb

Eliminate potential food sources by sealing trash cans, cleaning up spills immediately, keeping pet food in airtight containers, and regularly mopping or vacuuming your floors. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 8 Oct. 2026

But, there’s another benefit to using your favorite essential oil to leave behind a better smell after mopping. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English mappe

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1709, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing mop

• dry mop
• dust mop
• mop up

Rhymes for mop

• bop
• chop
• cop
• crop
• drop
• flop
• fop
• hop
• knop
• lop
• op
• plop

Kids Definition

mop

1 of 2 noun

ˈmäp 

1

: a tool for cleaning made of a bundle of cloth or yarn or a sponge fastened to a handle

2

: something resembling a mop

a tangled mop of hair

mop

2 of 2 verb

mopped; mopping

: to wipe or clean with or as if with a mop

mop the floor

mopped my brow with a handkerchief