Definition

1. Noun:

   • A hairstyling product: A toiletry consisting of an aerosol foam used to style hair, typically to add volume or hold.
   • A savory dish: A light, creamy dish made from puréed fish, meat, or vegetables, often set with gelatin and served cold.
   • A dessert: A rich, frothy, creamy dessert made with whipped cream, egg whites, and often chocolate or fruit, served chilled.

2. Verb:

   • To apply mousse: To apply a styling mousse to hair.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She uses a mousse to give her hair more volume.
  • For the appetizer, we had a salmon mousse.
  • The chocolate mousse was light and delicious.

• Verb:

  • He mousses his hair every morning before work.

Advanced Usage

• "to set like a mousse": Used metaphorically to describe something that becomes firm or sets in a light, airy way.
  • The dessert mixture will set like a mousse in the refrigerator.

Variants and Related Words

• Mousseline (n): A fine, light fabric or a sauce/cream with a similar light texture to mousse.
  • The chef prepared a mousseline sauce for the fish.

Synonyms

• Noun (Hairstyling): Styling foam, hair foam.
• Noun (Dessert): Cream, fool, Bavarian cream (similar but distinct preparations).
• Verb: Style, gel (though "gel" is a different product).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Related Idioms

Noun

1. toiletry consisting of an aerosol foam used in hair styling
2. a light creamy dish made from fish or meat and set with gelatin
3. a rich, frothy, creamy dessert made with whipped egg whites and heavy cream

Verb

1. apply a styling gel to
   • she mousses her hair