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

But he's thrown in some surprises, like octopus ceviche and chicken liver mousse. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026

Using a sticky-free formula, this pomade mousse gives hair texture without weighing it down. —Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026

Products in the new collection include a thermal shield mist, volumizing mousse, and strong hold gel. —Caché McClay, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026

To style, prep your hair with a volumizing spray rather than a mousse—sprays are more lightweight and thus less likely to weigh fine hair down. —Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 7 Apr. 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