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1

mother

noun moth·er \ ˈmə-t͟hər \

Definition of mother

1 a : a female parent
  • She's the mother of three small children.
b (1) : a woman in authority; specifically : the superior of a religious community of women
  • Mother Theresa
(2) : an old or elderly woman
  • Mother Hubbard
2 : source, origin
  • necessity is the mother of invention
3 : maternal tenderness or affection
  • all my mother came into mine eyes and gave me up to tears
  • —William Shakespeare
4
[short for motherfucker]
sometimes vulgar : motherfucker
5 : something that is an extreme or ultimate example of its kind especially in terms of scale
  • the mother of all construction projects
  • the mother of all ocean liners
—

motherhood

play \-ˌhu̇d\ noun
—

motherless

play \-ləs\ adjective
—

motherlessness

noun

Origin and Etymology of mother

Middle English moder, from Old English mōdor; akin to Old High German muoter mother, Latin mater, Greek mētēr, Sanskrit mātṛ

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

2

mother

adjective

Definition of mother

1 a : of, relating to, or being a mother
b : bearing the relation of a mother
2 : derived from or as if from one's mother
3 : acting as or providing parental stock —used without reference to sex

Examples of mother in a Sentence

  1. she often offered to babysit for friends, hoping to satisfy her mother urges until she had children of her own

Origin and Etymology of mother

see 1mother

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

mother Synonyms

Synonyms

maternal, motherly;

Related Words

parental;

female, feminine, womanish, womanlike, womanly;

matriarchal, matronly;

caring, giving, nurturing;

3

mother

verb

Definition of mother

mothered; mothering play \ˈmə-t͟hə-riŋ, ˈmət͟h-riŋ\
transitive verb
1 a : to give birth to
b : to give rise to : produce
2 : to care for or protect like a mother

See mother defined for English-language learners

Examples of mother in a Sentence

  1. She mothered two sons but no daughters.

  2. I hope to mother at least one child.

Origin and Etymology of mother

see 1mother

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

mother Synonyms

Synonyms

administer (to), care (for), minister (to), nurse;

Near Antonyms

brush (aside or off), forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, slight;

Related Words

cure, heal, remedy;

doctor, treat;

aid, conserve, preserve, provide (for), support;

baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil;

cater (to), humor;

indulge;

Phrases

look after, look out for, look to, see to, take care of, wait on (also wait upon);

Other Embryology Terms

gravid, neonate, ontogeny, parturition

4

mother

noun

Definition of mother

: mother of vinegar

Origin and Etymology of mother

archaic mother dregs, lees; akin to Middle Dutch moeder dregs

First Known Use: 1682

in the meaning defined above

MOTHER Defined for English Language Learners

mother

verb

Definition of mother for English Language Learners

  • : to give birth to (a child)

  • : to be or act as mother to (someone) : to care for or protect (someone) like a mother

MOTHER Defined for Kids

1

mother

noun moth·er \ ˈmə-t͟hər \

Definition of mother for Students

1 : a female parent
2 : a nun in charge of a convent
3 : 1cause 1, origin
  • Necessity is the mother of invention.
—

motherhood

\-ˌhu̇d\ noun
—

motherless

\-ləs\ adjective
2

mother

adjective

Definition of mother for Students

1 : of or having to do with a mother
  • mother love
2 : being in a relation suggesting that of a mother to others
  • our mother country
3

mother

verb

Definition of mother for Students

mothered; mothering
: to be or act as a mother to

Medical Dictionary

mother

noun moth·er \ ˈmət͟h-ər \

medical Definition of mother

: a female parent

Learn More about mother

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mother Spanish Central: Translation of mother Nglish: Translation of mother for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mother for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mother

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