floss

American  

[flaws, flos] / flɔs, flɒs /

noun

1. the cottony fiber yielded by the silk-cotton tree.

2. silk filaments with little or no twist, used in weaving as brocade or in embroidery.

3. any silky, filamentous matter, as the silk of corn.

4. dental floss.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to use dental floss on the teeth.

verb (used with object)

1. to clean (the teeth) with dental floss.

floss British  

/ flɒs /

noun

1. the mass of fine silky fibres obtained from cotton and similar plants

2. any similar fine silky material, such as the hairlike styles and stigmas of maize or the fibres prepared from silkworm cocoons

3. untwisted silk thread used in embroidery, etc

4. See dental floss

---

verb

1. (tr) to clean (between one's teeth) with dental floss

Other Word Forms

• flosser noun

Etymology

Origin of floss

1750–60; probably < French floche, as in soie floche floss silk, Old French flosche down, velvet pile (of uncertain origin)

Example Sentences

Dances, for instance, may mimic animal behaviors, or reference popular moments from the series, such as getting grannies to floss.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

The fabric pumpkins are then finished off with threaded floss and a fabric stem.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2025

She ranted: "Where you going to have the wedding reception? On the log flumes? And what's on the menu for the wedding breakfast? Hot dogs and candy floss?"

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2024

They’re in dental floss, food packaging, brake fluid, you name it.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2024

Aru considered herself extremely lucky if she remembered to brush her teeth at night, much less floss.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

Related Words

• cord
• cotton
• fiber
• filament
• hair
• ribbon
• strand
• string
• wire
• wool
• yarn