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
3
: maternal tenderness or affection
all my mother came into mine eyes and gave me up to tears— William Shakespeare
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
adjectiveDefinition 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
verbDefinition of mother (Entry 3 of 4)
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)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for mother
The first known use of mother was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century