mother Hear it!

mother¹ Definition

mother (mut̸h′ər)

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
  3. the female parent of a plant or animal
  4. 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
  6. an elderly woman: used as a title of affectionate respect
  7. 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

mother¹ Related Forms

moth′er·less adjective

mother¹ 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 (mut̸h′ər)

noun

  1. mother of vinegar
  2. Obsolete dregs

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

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.

mother Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • expectant: Night work Employers need to consider risks to new and expectant mothers who work at night.
  • widowed: There are some particularly sad circumstances in connection with the accident, one of the victims being the sole support of his widowed mother.
  • teenage: Finding the best way to support teenage mothers in Newcastle Upon Type.
  • unmarried: Bearing in mind also that this was the early 70's when being an unmarried mother ( as we were called then!
  • pregnant: The chance of a pregnant mother having a girl is about 50 % .
  • loving: Wife of Brian, loving mother to Kevin, nana to Tess.

Modifies a noun

  • tongue: They will praise your knowledge of their mother tongue.
  • goddess: Cybele, a mother goddess, originated in Phrygia ( now Turkey ).
  • hen: My sister Fiona fussed over me like a mother hen.

Noun used with modifier

  • birth: She is the birth mother of a very dear friend of mine.
  • my: Here's what Sue had to say: My mother is scheduled for hip replacement surgery soon.
  • nursing: Italy is the nursing mother of Mazzini, who is the fitting child of such a parent.
  • thy: The caterpillar on the leaf Repeats to thee thy mother 's grief.

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.
  • milk: Tropical oils and mother's milk are by far the richest food sources of medium chain fatty acids available.

Possessives

  • bride: The bride's mother, Angela, wore a fabulous lavender outfit complete with matching hat.
  • complainant: None of the issues relating to the complainant's mother 's hydration level contributed to her deterioration.

Preposition: of

  • bride: There are elegant mother of the bride dresses to suit every budget size.
  • pearl: A bathroom floor laid in mother of pearl reflects the opulence the dolls house portrays.
  • invention: Clever Cogs If necessity is the mother of invention, who helps with its upbringing?