mop

Universal Words 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 ~ 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). PHRASALVERBS mop sth/sb<->up to remove the liquid from sth using sth that absorbs it: Do you want some bread to mop up that sauce? * (figurative) A number of smaller companies were mopped up (= taken over) by the American multinational. * (figurative) New equipment mopped up (= used up) what was left of this year's budget. mop sb/sth<->up 1 to complete or end sth by dealing with the final parts: There are a few things that need mopping up before I can leave. 2 to get rid of the last few people who continue to oppose you, especially by capturing or killing them: Troops combed the area to mop up any remaining resistance.