# moss

/ˈmɔs/ (US) · /mˈɒs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/moss
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the plant

noun · CEFR B2

a small, soft green plant that grows in thick layers on damp ground, rocks, or trees.

For teachers: any of various small, seedless green plants of the phylum Bryophyta, typically growing in dense clusters or mats in damp environments.

- The old stone wall was completely covered in soft green moss.
- The forest floor was carpeted in a thick layer of moss, which dampened the sound of our footsteps as we walked through the valley.

### 2. a bog or swamp

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

a soft, wet area of land like a bog or fen.

For teachers: an area of soft, wet, peaty ground; a bog or fen.

- The hikers had to be careful not to sink into the deep peat moss.
- Local legends spoke of ancient treasures buried deep within the treacherous mosses of the northern counties.

### 3. to catch a ball over someone

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Slang

to jump up and catch a ball over a defender who is trying to stop you.

For teachers: to catch a pass, typically in American football, by jumping higher than one or more defenders.

- The wide receiver managed to moss the defender for a spectacular touchdown.
- He became a highlight-reel sensation after he mossed two elite cornerbacks in the end zone during the final seconds of the game.

Usage: Derived from the name of NFL player Randy Moss; usually transitive.

### 4. to relax

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

to spend time relaxing or doing nothing.

For teachers: to spend time in a relaxed or idle manner.

- We were just mossing at the park until the sun went down.
- After a stressful week of exams, they spent the entire Saturday just mossing at the beach.

## Examples

- Green moss grows on the north side of the old stone wall.
- The forest floor was covered in a thick carpet of moss that felt like a sponge under our feet.
- Ecologists monitor the growth of specific moss species as bioindicators of air quality and moisture levels within ancient woodland ecosystems.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.