/ mɒp; NAmE mɑːp/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a tool for washing floors that has a long handle with a bunch of thick strings or soft material at the end :
a mop and bucket
2.
a kitchen utensil (= a tool) for washing dishes, that has a short handle with soft material at one end
3.
a mass of thick, often untidy, hair :
a mop of curly red hair
■ verb ( -pp- ) [ vn ]
1.
to clean sth with a mop :
She wiped all the surfaces and mopped the floor.
2.
mop sth (from sth) to remove liquid from the surface of sth using a cloth :
He took out a handkerchief to mop his brow (= to remove the sweat) .
•
IDIOMS
see floor noun
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PHRASAL VERBS
- mop sth/sb up
- mop sb/sth up
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: perhaps ultimately related to Latin mappa napkin.