I. ˈmäp noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English mappe, short for mappel, probably from Medieval Latin mappula handkerchief, towel, from Late Latin, diminutive of Latin mappa napkin — more at map
1.
a. : a household implement consisting of a mass of absorbent material (as coarse yarn, cellulose, or rags) fastened to a long handle and used typically for cleaning floors — compare dishmop , dry mop
b. : a cloth or wad of material for absorbing moisture : swab
a surgical mop of absorbent cotton
2. dialect England : statute fair
3. : something that resembles a mop: as
a. : a thick often unruly mass of hair
his hair was a disorderly yellow mop — T.B.Costain
grizzled mops of the elderly Fiji chieftains — Mollie Panter-Downes
perambulating mops known as Yorkshire terriers — Time
specifically : the matted forelock of a buffalo
gathered the mops from the heads that were left unskinned on the prairie — Mari Sandoz
b. : a dauber for applying a liquid
dip this mop into the barbecue sauce and slap the roasting meat with it — Sheila Hibben
poisoned syrup was applied to the tops of plants with a mop — American Guide Series: Florida
c. : star-mop
II. verb
( mopped ; mopped ; mopping ; mops )
transitive verb
1. : to use a mop on: as
a. : to clean by mopping
mop a floor
— often used with up
strained to mop up the debris left by the … flood — New York Times
b. : to wipe or polish with a mop
a pitcher … should be well mopped out, taking care to scrub the whole interior surface — Emily Holt
mopped his brow with a silk handkerchief — Waldo Frank
mopped an imaginary tear from her eye — David Garnett
mopping his plate with a limp piece of new bread — Kenneth Roberts
— often used with up
mops up his place with a tortilla folded twice — M.M.Liberman
c. : to apply (a liquid) with a mop
mopping … astringents over that area will shorten the period of discomfort — H.G.Armstrong
built-up roof coverings shall consist of two or more layers of saturated felt sheets … thoroughly mopped with a hot bituminous cement — Code for Dwelling Construction
2. slang Britain : to consume eagerly : gobble , guzzle — usually used with up
swam round with great vigor and mopped up his worms greedily — Irish Digest
mopping up gin and looking a bit glazed — Anton Vogt
3. : to overcome decisively : polish off : trounce
sent its superb team of oarsmen … to mop the field in the Henley Royal Regatta — David Dodge
— used especially in the slang phrase mop the floor with
the king of Spain mopped his floor with him — London Daily News
— often used with up
just let me at him — I'll mop him up
a raiding battleship could mop up any and every convoy … guarded only by cruisers — U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings
intransitive verb
: to clean a surface (as a floor) with a mop
first she dusted, then she mopped
— often used with up
residents and workers mopped up after a Sunday night flood — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
III. intransitive verb
( mopped ; mopped ; mopping ; mops )
Etymology: perhaps from obsolete mop fool — more at moppet
: to make a face
a shaggy creature … came and danced along with her, mopping and mowing — Mary Webb
IV. noun
( -s )
archaic : grimace , face
the mops and mows of the old witch — R.L.Stevenson