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

While some celebrity stylists prefer to use mousse, others go in with a heavy gel to mimic that post-shower appearance. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025

Add a little mousse for movement. —Pamela Vázquez, Glamour, 11 Nov. 2025

Dessert included chocolate mousse and crisp slices of watermelon and pineapple. —Idra Novey, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025

The menu features many French classics, like Dover sole with brown butter, Robuchon’s signature butter-laden pommes purée (De Lellis spent a decade at Restaurant Joël Robuchon in Vegas), and chocolate mousse, but also blends in international flavors like za’atar and calamansi. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025

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