moss

¹

[ maws, mos ]

noun

1. any tiny, leafy-stemmed, flowerless plant of the class Musci, reproducing by spores and growing in tufts, sods, or mats on moist ground, tree trunks, rocks, etc.
2. a growth of such plants.
3. any of various similar plants, as Iceland moss or club moss.
4. Chiefly Scot. and North England. a swamp or bog.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with a growth of moss:

   to moss a crumbling wall.

Moss

²

[ maws, mos ]

noun

1. Howard, 1922–1987, U.S. poet, editor, and playwright.

moss

¹

/ mɒs /

noun

1. any bryophyte of the phylum Bryophyta , typically growing in dense mats on trees, rocks, moist ground, etc See also peat moss
2. a clump or growth of any of these plants
3. any of various similar but unrelated plants, such as club moss, Spanish moss, Ceylon moss, rose moss, and reindeer moss
4. a peat bog or marsh

Moss

²

/ mɒs /

noun

1. MossKate1974MBritishARTS AND CRAFTS: fashion model Kate . born 1974, British supermodel.
2. MossStirling1929MEnglishSPORT AND GAMES: racing driver Sir Stirling. born 1929, English racing driver

moss

/ môs /

1. Any of various green, usually small nonvascular plants of the division Bryophyta. Mosses, unlike liverworts, have some tissues specialized for conducting water and nutrients. As in the other bryophytes, the diploid sporophyte grows on the haploid gametophyte generation, which supplies it with nutrients. Mosses often live in moist, shady areas and grow in clusters or mats. Sphagnum mosses play a crucial role in the ecology of peat bogs.
2. See more at bryophyte
3. Any of a number of plants that look like mosses but are not related to them. For instance, reindeer moss is a lichen, Irish moss is an alga, and Spanish moss is a bromeliad, a flowering plant.

Derived Forms

• ˈmossy, adjective
• ˈmossiness, noun
• ˈmossˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• mosslike adjective
• un·mossed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of moss¹

before 1000; Middle English mos ( se ), Old English mos moss, bog; akin to German Moos, Old Norse mȳrr mire

Word History and Origins

Origin of moss¹

Old English mos swamp; compare Middle Dutch, Old High German mos bog, Old Norse mosi; compare also Old Norse mӯrr mire

Idioms and Phrases

see rolling stone gathers no moss .

Example Sentences

At the heavily sealed Marienplatz, the researchers counted only 20 species, with just one bird and moss species as well as insects and bat species.

From Science Daily

“If I were to make a prediction, I would envisage a growing fraction of the Peninsula’s landscape becoming dominated by a mosaic ecosystem of mosses, lichens, liverworts and fungi,” Roland said.

From Salon

It’s enhanced with maple syrup, vanilla and stevia, along with sea moss, organic coconut cream and an organic strawberry glaze.

From Salon

Also known as water bears and moss piglets, tardigrades sport blobby physiques, lumbering gaits and perfectly circular mouths stuck in the middle of their otherwise-featureless faces.

From Salon

Perched on broken branches beside a river, its orange body stood out against the lush green moss.

From BBC