mud

[muhd]

noun

1. wet, soft earth or earthy matter, as on the ground after rain, at the bottom of a pond, or along the banks of a river; mire.

2. Informal.,  scandalous or malicious assertions or information.

   The opposition threw a lot of mud at our candidate.

3. Slang.,  brewed coffee, especially when strong or bitter.

4. a mixture of chemicals and other substances pumped into a drilling rig chiefly as a lubricant for the bit and shaft.

verb (used with object)

mudded, mudding 

1. to cover, smear, or spatter with mud.

   to mud the walls of a hut.

2. to stir up the mud or sediment in.

   waders mudding the clear water.

verb (used without object)

mudded, mudding 

1. to hide in or burrow into mud.

mud

/ mʌd /

noun

1. a fine-grained soft wet deposit that occurs on the ground after rain, at the bottom of ponds, lakes, etc

2. informal,  slander or defamation

3. informal,  not at all clear

4. to disgrace or defame someone

5. informal,  a humorous drinking toast

6. informal,  someone is disgraced

7. informal,  to slander; vilify

verb

1. (tr) to soil or cover with mud

Other Word Forms

• unmudded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mud¹

1300–50; Middle English mudde, mode < Middle Low German mudde. mother ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of mud¹

C14: probably from Middle Low German mudde; compare Middle High German mot swamp, mud, Swedish modd slush

Idioms and Phrases

see clear as mud; name is mud; sling mud at.

Example Sentences

Elsie-May has been playing a year and said she loved sliding in the mud.

Read more on BBC

Now, the bookshop is drenched in mud and they are taking stock of the damage.

Read more on BBC

"There are mud and rocks everywhere. Some flooding has subsided but some remains."

Read more on BBC

The storm dumped inches of rain on the San Bernardino County mountains and foothills and unleashed a torrent of mud, rocks and trees, particularly in burn scars near Oak Glen and Forest Falls.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some areas, however, saw dramatic rainfall over a short period of time, causing minor flooding in Twentynine Palms and dangerous mud and debris flows in the San Bernardino County mountains, trapping several motorists.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clay 
• muck 
• silt 
• sludge 
• slush