mop

1 of 2

noun

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 2

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

Examples of mop in a Sentence

Verb

He mopped the sweat from his brow.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In our spin mop testing, this mop stood out as the best lightweight option, weighing just 5.5 pounds. —Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 10 July 2025

The Ingram Independent School District also announced that H-E-B is distributing cleaning supplies including rakes, brooms, mops and disinfectants free of charge. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2025

Verb

The checklist for cleaning the kitchen was probably just washing dirty dishes, wiping down countertops, and mopping the floors. —Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 19 July 2025

For example, should papers include everyone involved, even the guy who mops the floor in the server room? —Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mappe

First Known Use

Noun

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