Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - muddy

(muddier, muddiest, muddies, muddying, muddied) 1. Something that is muddy contains mud or is covered in mud. ...a muddy track... The ground was still very muddy. ADJ 2. If you muddy something, you cause it to be muddy. The ground still smelled of rain and they muddied their shoes... VERB: V n 3. If someone or something muddies a situation or issue, they cause it to seem less clear and less easy to understand. It’s difficult enough without muddying the issue with religion. VERB: V n • muddied Overseas the legal issues are more muddied. ADJ • If someone or something muddies the waters, they cause a situation or issue to seem less clear and less easy to understand. They keep on muddying the waters by raising other political issues. PHRASE: V inflects