1
a
: soft thread of silk or mercerized cotton for embroidery
b
2
: fluffy fibrous material
flossed; flossing; flosses
: to use dental floss on
: to use dental floss
Examples of floss in a Sentence
Noun
used cotton floss to simulate Santa's beard
Verb
My dentist told me I should floss more often.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024
In addition to using floss and a good toothbrush, picking the right toothpaste is key to having good oral hygiene.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 3 Jan. 2024
On social media and in chat groups, hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers talk about new food offerings in Shenzhen like pastries filled with seaweed and pork floss.
—Olivia Wang, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024
The grease-free mound is so light it practically levitates, and the fluffy white grains are scattered with pungent cilantro and what look like wood shavings (dry tofu floss) for delightful contrast.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
There are different compartments on the bag to hold toothbrushes, shampoo bottles, floss, lotion, etc.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2023
Ply There are six plies of thread in one strand of embroidery floss.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Araya also catalogs champion trees — the largest specimens in the state or even the country — wherever his work takes him, which is all across L.A. One of his favorite specimens to send fellow arborists out to is the towering silk floss in back of Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery in Sawtelle.
—Ryan Bradley, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2024
These include a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, body wipes, and deodorant.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2023
Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2024
Who are water flossers best for? Are there any other flossing alternatives?
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 Apr. 2024
If that’s the case, Khan says to floss first and then rinse your mouth with water.
—Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024
Make sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly to clear out bacteria that could contribute to pain.10
Does Everyone Get PMS?
—Anthea Levi, Health, 16 Mar. 2024
Set and Gunna weave through the Big Apple and take over the 5th Avenue Prada location to turn the luxury store into a private photo shoot, flossing their favorite designer garments.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024
However, not flossing or brushing your teeth regularly can result in problems like cavities and gum disease associated with halitosis.
—Maria Masters, Health, 21 Aug. 2023
Those who had to commit extra effort to unlock the rewards flossed 15% more days.
—Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2024
It can be seen swimming and scurrying, and is so adept at using tools—to, say, forage for food or floss its teeth—that its own intelligence is a hot topic of academic study.
—Erika Fry, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024
Noun
Find it on Amazon Keep Your Small Items Protected With This Storage Box
Optimize your organization with the perfect storage solution for small items like Q-tips, floss picks, and hair ties – the stackable Storage Box.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024
In addition to using floss and a good toothbrush, picking the right toothpaste is key to having good oral hygiene.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 3 Jan. 2024
On social media and in chat groups, hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers talk about new food offerings in Shenzhen like pastries filled with seaweed and pork floss.
—Olivia Wang, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024
The grease-free mound is so light it practically levitates, and the fluffy white grains are scattered with pungent cilantro and what look like wood shavings (dry tofu floss) for delightful contrast.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
There are different compartments on the bag to hold toothbrushes, shampoo bottles, floss, lotion, etc.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2023
Ply There are six plies of thread in one strand of embroidery floss.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Araya also catalogs champion trees — the largest specimens in the state or even the country — wherever his work takes him, which is all across L.A. One of his favorite specimens to send fellow arborists out to is the towering silk floss in back of Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery in Sawtelle.
—Ryan Bradley, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2024
These include a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, body wipes, and deodorant.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2023
Verb
Practicing good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth consistently, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly can reduce the risk of your oral microbiome becoming imbalanced.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2024
Who are water flossers best for? Are there any other flossing alternatives?
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 Apr. 2024
If that’s the case, Khan says to floss first and then rinse your mouth with water.
—Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024
Make sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly to clear out bacteria that could contribute to pain.10
Does Everyone Get PMS?
—Anthea Levi, Health, 16 Mar. 2024
Set and Gunna weave through the Big Apple and take over the 5th Avenue Prada location to turn the luxury store into a private photo shoot, flossing their favorite designer garments.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024
However, not flossing or brushing your teeth regularly can result in problems like cavities and gum disease associated with halitosis.
—Maria Masters, Health, 21 Aug. 2023
Those who had to commit extra effort to unlock the rewards flossed 15% more days.
—Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2024
It can be seen swimming and scurrying, and is so adept at using tools—to, say, forage for food or floss its teeth—that its own intelligence is a hot topic of academic study.
—Erika Fry, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'floss.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near floss
Cite this Entry
“Floss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floss. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
floss
1 of 2 noun
ˈfläs 
ˈflȯs
1
a
: soft silk or cotton thread used for embroidery
b
2
: fluffy material full of fibers
floss
2 of 2 verb
: to use dental floss on (one's teeth)
Medical Definition
floss
1 of 2 nounfloss
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to use dental floss on (one's teeth)
the correct way to floss your teeth
: to use dental floss
flosses daily
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