moss

1 of 2

noun

ˈmȯs 

1

chiefly Scotland : bog, swamp

especially : a peat bog

2

a

: any of a class (Musci) of bryophytic plants characterized by a gametophyte having a small leafy often tufted stem bearing sex organs at its tip

also : a clump or sward of these plants

b

: any of various plants resembling moss in appearance or habit of growth

3

: a mossy covering

mosslike

ˈmȯs-ˌlīk 

adjective

moss

2 of 2

verb

mossed; mossing; mosses

transitive verb

: to cover or overgrow with moss

Examples of moss in a Sentence

Noun

Moss covered the fallen logs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But Huang suddenly stopped, noticing that the man was tending to the garden with a bamboo tweezer and a bamboo basket with, at most, three tiny pieces of dead moss inside it. —Bychloe Berger, Fortune, 24 May 2024

Line the form with soaked sheet moss and fill it with potting soil and fresh flowers. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2024

That could mean a stand of pines, a glade near a creek, or anywhere moss grows, which usually indicates the right balance of shade and moisture. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2024

Step off London’s bustling Berkeley Street and into a reception entrance where you are immediately shielded under a living, breathing chandelier — or rather, a sprawling dome canopy of rainforest moss. —Stacey Wreathall and Dafydd Gwyon, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2024

Give Soft-Washing a Spin Though pressure-washing might seem like an effective way to eradicate everything from mold to moss, Kelly Salas of Sierra Vista Window and Gutter Cleaning suggests soft-washing. —Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 9 May 2024

In a post published on X this morning—and now counting nearly 15 million views—Katy Perry is pictured wearing a stunning dress decorated with three-dimensional floral appliqués, which descends to the ground, transforming into incredibly realistic-looking moss. —Chiara Crescenzi, WIRED, 7 May 2024

Most moss prefers medium to dense shade and acidic soil. —Melinda Myers, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024

Or mostly dry — the cavities had small side passages that were extremely wet — more so than even the surrounding moss. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English mos; akin to Old High German mos moss, Latin muscus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing moss

• club moss
• Iceland moss
• Irish moss
• moss agate
• moss animal
• moss green
• moss-grown
• moss pink
• moss rose
• moss-trooper
• peat moss
• reindeer moss
• Spanish moss

Kids Definition

moss

noun

ˈmȯs

1

: any of a class of plants that have no flowers and produce small leafy stems forming sex organs at their tips and that grow in patches like cushions on rocks, bark, or damp ground

2

: any of various plants (as lichens) resembling mosses compare reindeer moss

mosslike

-ˌlīk

adjective

mossy

ˈmȯ-sē

adjective

Medical Definition

moss

noun

ˈmȯs 

1

: any of a class (Musci) of bryophytic plants having a small leafy often tufted stem bearing sex organs at its tip see sphagnum

2

: any of various plants resembling mosses in appearance or habit of growth see club moss, iceland moss, irish moss