moss

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) Any of various small, green, seedless plants growing on the ground or on the surfaces of trees, stones, etc.; now specifically, a plant of the phylum Bryophyta (formerly division Musci).
2. (countable) A kind or species of such plants.
3. (countable, informal, uncountable) Any alga, lichen, bryophyte, or other plant of seemingly simple structure.
4. (UK, countable, regional, uncountable) A bog; a fen.
5. (countable, slang) A spectacular catch made over 1 or multiple defenders, typically a jump ball.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To become covered with moss.
2. (transitive) To cover (something) with moss.
3. (intransitive, slang, transitive) To make a spectacular catch over 1 or multiple defenders.

Verb

To relax, chill out.

Synonyms

lichen

seaweed

algae

bryophyte

slime

muscus

duckweed

musci

scum

mildew

sedge

soil

tartar

territory

verdigris

world

🗺️

waterweed

thallophytic plant

kind of aquatic plant

alga

water lichen

bamboo shoot

bryophyta

country

earth

foam

froth

ground

kelp

lichens

Translations

musgo

muschio

Moos

mousse

mos

musgo

molsa

muscus

musco

βρύο

طُحْلُب

yosun

μούσκλο

mossa

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mɒs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: mos

Inherited from Old English: mos

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Moas

Cognate with Western Frisian: moas

Cognate with Dutch: mos

Cognate with German: Moos

Cognate with Danish: mos

Cognate with Swedish: mossa

Cognate with Icelandic: mosi

Cognate with Latin: muscus

Cognate with Russian: мох

Cognate with Polish: mech

In summary

From Middle English mos, from Old English mos (“bog, marsh, moss”), from Proto-West Germanic *mos (“marsh, moss”), from Proto-Germanic *musą (“marsh, moss”), from Proto-Indo-European *mews- (“moss”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Moas (“moss”), West Frisian moas (“moss”), Dutch mos (“moss”), German Low German Moss (“moss”), German Moos (which shows the same polysemy of "moss" and "bog, fen"), Danish mos (“moss”), Swedish mossa (“moss”), Icelandic mosi (“moss”), Latin muscus (“moss”), Russian мох (mox, “moss”), Polish mech. Doublet of mousse.