mop

B1 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /mɑp/ UK /mɒp/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like map /æ/ vs /ɑ/ Sounds like mope /ɑ/ vs /oʊ/

Freq #9237

Meanings

1

noun
a cleaning tool with an absorbent head fixed to a long handle, used especially for washing floors

She filled a bucket and ran the mop across the kitchen floor.
2

verb
to clean or wipe a surface with a mop

Please mop the hallway after the muddy visitors leave.
3

verb
to wipe liquid, sweat, or tears from a surface

He mopped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
4

noun
a thick or untidy mass of hair

A damp mop of curls fell across the child's eyes.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a cleaning tool with an... floor mopswab

2 verb · to clean or wipe a surface... wash wipe swab

3 verb · to wipe liquid, sweat, or... wipe dab blot

4 noun · a thick or untidy mass of hair shock thatch mass

Opposites

soil dirty

Word family

Forms moppedmoppingmops

Derived forms moppedmoppingmoppermopheadmop-up

Related forms broom sponge bucket

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

mop the floor
clean the floor with a wet mop

Verb + noun
sponge mop
a mop whose cleaning head is made from absorbent sponge

Noun + noun

Idioms (1)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English mappe or mapple, probably denoting a cloth or bundle of yarn and perhaps related through Walloon mappe ('napkin') to Latin mappa ('cloth, napkin'). The hair sense compares an untidy head of hair to the strands of the cleaning tool.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# mop

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /mɑp/
**IPA (UK):** /mɒp/
**Frequency rank:** 9237

## Meanings
1. a cleaning tool with an absorbent head fixed to a long handle, used especially for washing floors
2. to clean or wipe a surface with a mop
3. to wipe liquid, sweat, or tears from a surface
4. a thick or untidy mass of hair

## Examples
- She filled a bucket and ran the mop across the kitchen floor.
- Please mop the hallway after the muddy visitors leave.
- He mopped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
- A damp mop of curls fell across the child's eyes.

## Synonyms
- swab
- wipe
- wash
- dab
- blot

## Antonyms
- soil
- dirty

## Derived Forms
- mopped
- mopping
- mopper
- mophead
- mop-up

## Related Forms
- broom
- sponge
- bucket

## Etymology
From Middle English mappe or mapple, probably denoting a cloth or bundle of yarn and perhaps related through Walloon mappe ('napkin') to Latin mappa ('cloth, napkin'). The hair sense compares an untidy head of hair to the strands of the cleaning tool.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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