mud

[ muhd ]

noun

1. wet, soft earth or earthy matter, as on the ground after rain, at the bottom of a pond, or along the banks of a river; mire.
2. Informal. scandalous or malicious assertions or information:

   The opposition threw a lot of mud at our candidate.

3. Slang. brewed coffee, especially when strong or bitter.
4. a mixture of chemicals and other substances pumped into a drilling rig chiefly as a lubricant for the bit and shaft.

verb (used with object)

, mud·ded, mud·ding.

1. to cover, smear, or spatter with mud:

   to mud the walls of a hut.

2. to stir up the mud or sediment in:

   waders mudding the clear water.

verb (used without object)

, mud·ded, mud·ding.

1. to hide in or burrow into mud.

mud

/ mʌd /

noun

1. a fine-grained soft wet deposit that occurs on the ground after rain, at the bottom of ponds, lakes, etc
2. informal.
   slander or defamation
3. clear as mud informal.
   not at all clear
4. drag someone's name in the mud
   to disgrace or defame someone
5. here's mud in your eye informal.
   a humorous drinking toast
6. someone's name is mud informal.
   someone is disgraced
7. throw mud at or sling mud at informal.
   to slander; vilify

verb

1. tr to soil or cover with mud

Other Words From

• un·mudded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mud¹

1300–50; Middle English mudde, mode < Middle Low German mudde. mother ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of mud¹

C14: probably from Middle Low German mudde; compare Middle High German mot swamp, mud, Swedish modd slush

Idioms and Phrases

see clear as mud ; name is mud ; sling mud at .

Example Sentences

“I’m quite cruel to my protagonists. I drag them through the mud, I torture them, they suffer a lot of trauma, but then I reward them at the end.”

From Los Angeles Times

The heaviest rainfall - which could bring mud slides - is expected to hit northern California and southwest Oregon, according to the NOAA.

From BBC

And, perhaps above all, run more candidates who’ve gotten dirt under their fingernails, mud on the soles of their boots or grease stains on their coveralls.

From Los Angeles Times

The mud slinging has also included allegations that some traders have been buying up substandard fuel from Russia which is then blended with other products before being shipped into Nigeria.

From BBC

A team of researchers from the UK and Australia analysed charcoal and pollen contained in ancient mud to determine how Aboriginal Tasmanians shaped their surroundings.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• clay
• muck
• silt
• sludge
• slush