1 N‑VAR A moor is an area of open and usually high land with poor soil that is covered mainly with grass and heather. [mainly BRIT ] □ Colliford is higher, right up on the moors. □ Exmoor National Park stretches over 265 square miles of moor.
2 VERB If you moor a boat somewhere, you stop and tie it to the land with a rope or chain so that it cannot move away. □ [V n] She had moored her barge on the right bank of the river. □ [V ] I decided to moor near some tourist boats.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The Moors were a Muslim people who established a civilization in North Africa and Spain between the 8th and the 15th century A.D.
4 → see also mooring
moor|ing /mʊə r I ŋ/ (moorings )
1 N‑COUNT A mooring is a place where a boat can be tied so that it cannot move away, or the object it is tied to. □ Free moorings will be available.
2 N‑PLURAL Moorings are the ropes, chains, and other objects used to moor a boat. □ Emergency workers fear that the burning ship could slip its moorings.
Moor|ish /mʊə r I ʃ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is Moorish belongs to or is characteristic of the Muslim civilization in North Africa and Spain between the 8th and the 15th century A.D. □ …a medieval Moorish palace.
moor|land /mʊə r lænd/ (moorlands ) N‑UNCOUNT Moorland is land which consists of moors. □ …rugged Yorkshire moorland.
moose /muː s/ (moose ) N‑COUNT A moose is a large type of deer. Moose have big flat horns called antlers and are found in Northern Europe, Asia, and North America. Some British speakers use moose to refer to the North American variety of this animal, and elk to refer to the European and Asian varieties.
moot /muː t/ (moots , mooting , mooted )
1 VERB [usu passive] If a plan, idea, or subject is mooted , it is suggested or introduced for discussion. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] Plans have been mooted for a 450,000-strong Ukrainian army.
2 ADJ If something is a moot point or question, people cannot agree about it. □ How long he'll be able to do so is a moot point.
mop /mɒ p/ (mops , mopping , mopped )
1 N‑COUNT A mop is a piece of equipment for washing floors. It consists of a sponge or many pieces of string attached to a long handle.
2 VERB If you mop a surface such as a floor, you clean it with a mop. □ [V n] There was a woman mopping the stairs.
3 VERB If you mop sweat from your forehead or mop your forehead, you wipe it with a piece of cloth. □ [V n + from ] He mopped perspiration from his forehead. □ [V n] The Inspector took out a handkerchief and mopped his brow.
4 N‑COUNT If someone has a mop of hair, they have a lot of hair and it looks rather untidy. □ [+ of ] He was long-limbed and dark-eyed, with a mop of tight, dark curls.
▸ mop up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you mop up a liquid, you clean it with a cloth so that the liquid is absorbed. □ [V P n] A waiter mopped up the mess as best he could. □ [V n P ] When the washing machine spurts out water at least we can mop it up. □ [V P ] Michael mopped up quickly with his napkin.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you mop up something that you think is undesirable or dangerous, you remove it or deal with it so that it is no longer a problem. □ [V P n] The infantry divisions mopped up remaining centres of resistance. [Also V n P ]
mope /moʊ p/ (mopes , moping , moped ) VERB If you mope , you feel miserable and do not feel interested in doing anything. □ [V ] Get on with life and don't sit back and mope.
▸ mope around in BRIT, also use mope about PHRASAL VERB If you mope around or mope about a place, you wander around there not doing anything, looking and feeling unhappy. □ [V P n] He moped around the office for a while, feeling bored. □ [V P ] He mopes about all day.
mo|ped /moʊ ped/ (mopeds ) N‑COUNT A moped is a small motorcycle which you can also pedal like a bicycle. [mainly BRIT ]
MOR /e m oʊ ɑː r / N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] MOR is a type of pop music which is pleasant and not extreme or unusual. MOR is an abbreviation of 'middle-of-the-road'. □ …MOR singer Daniel O'Donnell.
mor|al ◆◇◇ /mɒ r ə l, [AM ] mɔː r-/ (morals )
1 N‑PLURAL Morals are principles and beliefs concerning right and wrong behaviour. □ …Western ideas and morals. □ They have no morals.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Moral means relating to beliefs about what is right or wrong. □ She describes her own moral dilemma in making the film. □ …matters of church doctrine and moral teaching. ● mor|al|ly ADV [ADV adj/adv, ADV after v] □ When, if ever, is it morally justifiable to allow a patient to die?
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Moral courage or duty is based on what you believe is right or acceptable, rather than on what the law says should be done. □ The Government had a moral, if not a legal duty to pay compensation.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A moral person behaves in a way that is believed by most people to be good and right. □ The people who will be on the committee are moral, cultured, competent people. ● mor|al|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Art is not there to improve you morally.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] If you give someone moral support, you encourage them in what they are doing by expressing approval. □ Moral as well as financial support was what the West should provide.