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mother1 definition

mother (mut̸hər)

noun

  1. a woman who has borne a child; esp., a woman as she is related to her child or children
    1. a stepmother
    2. an adoptive mother
    3. a mother-in-law
  2. the female parent of a plant or animal
  3. that which gives birth to something, is the origin or source of something, or nurtures in the manner of a mother
    1. a woman having the responsibility and authority of a mother
    2. mother superior: used esp. as a title
  4. an elderly woman: used as a title of affectionate respect
  5. Slang motherfucker: somewhat vulgar

Etymology: ME moder < OE modor, akin to Ger mutter < IE *matér, mother (> L mater, Gr mētēr, OIr māthir) < *ma-, echoic of baby talk

adjective

  1. of, like, or like that of a mother
  2. derived or learned from or as if from one's mother; native mother tongue
  3. designating a company, institution, etc. from which another or others originated mother church

transitive verb

  1. to be the mother of; give birth to: often used figuratively
  2. to look after or care for as a mother does

Related Forms:

mother Idioms

the mother of all

something regarded as the biggest, most impressive, or most important of (its kind): often used humorously [the mother of all yard sales]
mother2 definition

mother (mut̸hər)

noun

  1. mother of vinegar
  2. Obsolete dregs

Etymology: altered (infl. by mother) < MDu moeder, akin to MLowG modder: for IE base see mud

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
mother Synonyms

mother

n.

  1. A female parent

    parent, ancestress, matriarch, mamma, dam, materfamilias, mater, mama*, mammy*, motherkin*, mum*, mummy*, ma*, mom*, mommy*, muzzer*, maw*; see also parent, relative.

  2. A matron

    superintendent, mother superior, housemother; see administrator.

  3. The source

    fountainhead, font, beginning; see origin 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

mother Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • expectant: Night work Employers need to consider risks to new and expectant mothers who work at night.

Modifies a noun

  • tongue: They will praise your knowledge of their mother tongue.

Noun used with modifier

  • birth: She is the birth mother of a very dear friend of mine.

Possessives

  • womb: Amniocentesis involves the insertion of a needle inside the mother's womb and carries a one to two percent risk of causing a miscarriage.

Possessives

  • bride: The bride's mother, Angela, wore a fabulous lavender outfit complete with matching hat.

Preposition: of

  • bride: There are elegant mother of the bride dresses to suit every budget size.
mother usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

mother quotes

Obedience, you know, is Good Luck's mother, wedded to Salvation, they say.

-Aeschylus

Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle-shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

-Alexander, Cecil Frances

   My mother thinks Vietnam is somewhere near Panama.

-Anonymous

mother quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"mother." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/mother>

APA Style

mother. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/mother

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