mousse

1 of 2

noun

ˈmüs 

1

: a light spongy food usually containing cream or gelatin

2

: a molded chilled dessert made with sweetened and flavored whipped cream or egg whites and gelatin

chocolate mousse

3

: a foamy preparation used in styling hair

mousse

2 of 2

verb

moussed; moussing

transitive verb

: to style (hair) with mousse

Examples of mousse in a Sentence

Noun

a jar of styling mousse

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The mocha-mousse dress featured long sleeves, a plunging V-neckline, ab-baring cutouts, crisscross designs, and a wispy trailing skirt. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026

Many common options for shampoo, conditioner, mousse, body wash, deodorant, lotion, laundry detergent and dryer sheets contain fragrance mixes composed of several chemicals, with the sole purpose of providing a pleasant aroma to consumer products. —Katelyn Richard, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026

For the last course, McGarity says guests can’t go wrong with the restaurant’s staple dessert, Nutella mousse. —Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Jan. 2026

Dessert was a mango coconut mousse situation with sea salted orange foam that played with sweet and salty in the best way. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, literally, froth, moss, from Old French mosse, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German mos moss — more at moss

First Known Use

Noun

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1984, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mousse

• coos
• cruce
• deuce
• douce
• duce
• goose
• hoose
• juice
• loose
• noose
• nous
• sluice

Kids Definition

mousse

1 of 2 noun

ˈmüs 

1

: a light whipped or molded food

especially : a cold dessert of sweetened and flavored whipped cream or egg whites and gelatin

2

: a foamy preparation used in styling hair

mousse

2 of 2 verb

moussed; moussing

: to style (hair) with mousse