noun Uncommon

mater

MAY-tuh

Mater (noun) means an informal or old-fashioned British word for mother. Example: “Home for the holidays, are you? The mater will be pleased," his uncle said.”

noun

An informal or old-fashioned British word for mother.

""Home for the holidays, are you? The mater will be pleased," his uncle said."

In anatomy, one of the three membranes (meninges) that wrap the brain and spinal cord — the dura mater, arachnoid mater, or pia mater.

"The dura mater is the tough outer layer that protects the brain from the skull."

How to use mater

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA somewhat old-fashioned, mostly British way of saying "mother"; also the medical term for the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

When to use it

The "mother" sense sounds dated or upper-class British (think Wodehouse novels); it is rarely used in everyday speech now.

Easily confused with

matter →

Word forms

maters plural, matres plural, maters plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

"Home for the holidays, are you? The _____ will be pleased," his uncle said.

Etymology

From Latin māter, "mother" — the same root that gives us "maternal," "material," and "matrix."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for mater

pater eater tater later cater hater Water heater skater grater beater crater

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mater” mean?

The word “mater” means an informal or old-fashioned British word for mother. In plain terms, a somewhat old-fashioned, mostly British way of saying "mother"; also the medical term for the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

How do you pronounce “mater”?

“Mater” is pronounced MAY-tuh (/ˈmeɪtɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “mater” in a sentence?

Here is “mater” used in a sentence: “"Home for the holidays, are you? The mater will be pleased," his uncle said.”

What part of speech is “mater”?

“Mater” is a noun.

Where does the word “mater” come from?

The word “mater” comes from Latin. From Latin māter, "mother" — the same root that gives us "maternal," "material," and "matrix.".

Is “mater” a common word?

“Mater” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “mater” have?

“Mater” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an informal or old-fashioned British word for mother.