mother

noun moth·er \ ˈmə-t͟hər \

Examples: mother in a Sentence

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

[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

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

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;

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

She mothered two sons but no daughters.
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up mother? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

mother

Definition of mother

motherhood

motherless

motherlessness

Origin and Etymology of mother

mother

Definition of mother

Examples of mother in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of mother

mother Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

mother

Definition of mother

Examples of mother in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of mother

mother Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

Other Embryology Terms

mother

Definition of mother

Origin and Etymology of mother

MOTHER Defined for English Language Learners

mother

Definition of mother for English Language Learners

MOTHER Defined for Kids

mother

Definition of mother for Students

motherhood

motherless

mother

Definition of mother for Students

mother

Definition of mother for Students

Medical Dictionary

mother

medical Definition of mother

Learn More about mother

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Words We're Watching: 'B side'

Trending: DOJ Describes Comey as 'Insubordinate'

Name More Food!

9 Words for Transnational Currencies

Ghost Word