moss

1 of 2

noun

1
chiefly Scotland : bog, swamp
especially : a peat bog
2
a
: any of a class (Musci) of bryophytic plants characterized by a gametophyte having a small leafy often tufted stem bearing sex organs at its tip
also : a clump or sward of these plants
b
: any of various plants resembling moss in appearance or habit of growth
3
: a mossy covering
mosslike adjective

moss

2 of 2

verb

mossed; mossing; mosses

transitive verb

: to cover or overgrow with moss

Examples of moss in a Sentence

Noun Moss covered the fallen logs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Extreme weather at the poles stresses crucial moss and lichen, and shreds entire habitats in hours. Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 29 Sep. 2025 Reindeer moss, used as a mulch for containerized plants, is a fibrous chartreuse lichen grazed by caribou and reindeer in Arctic lands. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025 Mumford is known for his expertise in creating living walls, green roofs and moss wall installations. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025 The fortified walls of Makwanpurgadhi and Hariharpurgadhi have since become overgrown and covered with moss, transforming from sources of military power to tourist destination stops. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moss

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English mos; akin to Old High German mos moss, Latin muscus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of moss was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Moss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moss. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

moss

noun
ˈmȯs
1
: any of a class of plants that have no flowers and produce small leafy stems forming sex organs at their tips and that grow in patches like cushions on rocks, bark, or damp ground
2
: any of various plants (as lichens) resembling mosses compare reindeer moss
mosslike
-ˌlīk
adjective
mossy
ˈmȯ-sē
adjective

Medical Definition

moss

noun
1
: any of a class (Musci) of bryophytic plants having a small leafy often tufted stem bearing sex organs at its tip see sphagnum
2
: any of various plants resembling mosses in appearance or habit of growth see club moss, iceland moss, irish moss

More from Merriam-Webster on moss

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