Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for mop on Thesaurus.com a bundle of coarse yarn, a sponge, or other absorbent material, fastened at the end of a stick or handle for washing floors, dishes, etc. a thick mass of hair. a polishing wheel having several layers of cloth secured by a boss. Show More
verb (used with object), mopped, mop·ping. to rub, wipe, clean, or remove with a mop (often followed by up ): to mop up a spill. to wipe as if with a mop: to mop the face with a handkerchief. Show More
verb (used without object), mopped, mop·ping. to clean or wipe with or as if with a mop (often followed by up ): First he swept, then he mopped up. Show More
mop up , Military to clear (ground, trenches, towns, etc.) of scattered or remaining enemy combatants after attacking forces have conquered the area. Informal to dispose of; complete; finish: He mopped up the rest of his business and went on a vacation. Show More
Origin of mop 1 1375–1425; earlier
map, late Middle English mappe, apocopated variant of
mappel <
Medieval Latin mappula a cloth, equivalent to
Latin mapp(a ) napkin +
-ula -ule verb (used without object), mopped, mop·ping. to make a disappointed or unhappy face; grimace: an unruly child that mops and mows. Show More
Origin of mop 2 1560–70; akin to Dutch moppen to pout
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for mopping Contemporary Examples of mopping There was some mopping up to do, particularly to convince waverers in the Jewish community.
Irizarry spent the morning mopping the floors—“it still smells like fish everywhere,” she said—and taking stock.
Typical Post-y puns decried how custodians were “mopping up” and “cleaning us out.”
Historical Examples of mopping He recognized K., and, mopping dry a part of the porch, shoved a chair on it.
Women were fanning themselves and men were mopping their foreheads.
The little man had dropped down on to a stone, and was mopping his forehead.
"Not at all," said Peter, mopping the perspiration from his forehead.
He closed the door, and, mopping his injured nose, invited Annette to a seat.
British Dictionary definitions for mopping an implement with a wooden handle and a head made of twists of cotton or a piece of synthetic sponge, used for polishing or washing floors, or washing dishes something resembling this, such as a tangle of hair Show More
verb mops , mopping or mopped (tr often foll by up ) to clean or soak up with or as if with a mop Show More
Word Origin for mop C15 mappe , from earlier mappel , from Medieval Latin mappula cloth, from Latin mappa napkin
verb mops , mopping or mopped (intr) to make a grimace or sad expression (esp in the phrase mop and mow ) Show More
such a face or expression Show More
Word Origin for mop C16: perhaps from Dutch moppen to pour; compare Dutch mop pug dog
(in various parts of England) an annual fair at which formerly servants were hired Show More
Word Origin for mop C17: from the practice of servants carrying a mop, broom, or flail, etc, to signify the job sought
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for mopping n. late 15c., mappe "bundle of yarn, etc., fastened to the end of a stick for cleaning or spreading pitch on a ship's decks," from Walloon (French) mappe "napkin," from Latin mappa "napkin" (see map (n.)). Modern spelling by 1660s. Of hair, from 1847.
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v. 1709, from mop (n.). Related: Mopped ; mopping .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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