mother

noun (1)

moth·er | \ ˈmə-t͟hər

How to pronounce mother (audio)

\

Definition of mother

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : 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 Teresa

(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

mother

adjective

Definition of mother (Entry 2 of 4)

1a : 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

mother

verb

mothered; mothering\ ˈmə-t͟hə-riŋ

How to pronounce mother (audio)

, ˈmət͟h-riŋ \

Definition of mother (Entry 3 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : to give birth to

b : to give rise to : produce

2 : to care for or protect like a mother

mother

noun (2)

Definition of mother (Entry 4 of 4)

: mother of vinegar

Other Words from mother Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about mother

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Other Words from mother

Noun (1)

motherhood \ ˈmə-t͟hər-ˌhu̇d

\ noun

motherless \ ˈmə-t͟hər-ləs

\ adjective

motherlessness noun

Synonyms for mother

Synonyms: Adjective

maternal,
motherly

Synonyms: Verb

bear,
birth
[chiefly dialect],
deliver,
drop,
have,
produce

Examples of mother in a Sentence

Adjective she often offered to babysit for friends, hoping to satisfy her mother urges until she had children of her own Verb She mothered two sons but no daughters. I hope to mother at least one child.

First Known Use of mother

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1682, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for mother

Noun (1), Adjective, and Verb

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

Noun (2)

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

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Dictionary Entries near mother

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Cite this Entry

“Mother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mother. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for mother

mother

verb

English Language Learners Definition of mother

: to give birth to (a child)

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

See the full definition for mother in the English Language Learners Dictionary

mother

noun

moth·er | \ ˈmə-t͟hər

\

Kids Definition of mother

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a female parent

2 : a nun in charge of a convent

3 : cause entry 1 sense 1, origin Necessity is the mother of invention.

Other Words from mother

motherhood \ -ˌhu̇d \ noun

motherless \ -ləs \ adjective

mother

adjective

Kids Definition of mother (Entry 2 of 3)

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

mothered; mothering

Kids Definition of mother (Entry 3 of 3)

: to be or act as a mother to

mother

noun

moth·er | \ ˈmət͟h-ər

\

Medical Definition of mother

: a female parent

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