mother
MUHTH-uh
Mother (noun) means a female parent. Example: “Her mother taught her to bake when she was six.”
noun
1
A female parent.
"Her mother taught her to bake when she was six."
"He calls his mother every Sunday evening."
"My mother always packs far too much food when we visit."
2
The origin or source of something.
"Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention."
"Curiosity is often the mother of discovery, a teacher once told us."
"Fear of failure can be the mother of many silly excuses."
verb
1
To care for someone the way a mother would, sometimes to an overprotective degree.
"She tends to mother her younger colleagues."
"Stop mothering me — I can handle it myself."
"He mothers the new interns, making sure they all eat lunch."
How to use mother
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA female parent, or, more broadly, the origin of something, or the act of caring for someone protectively.
Common pairings
mother tongue
mother of invention
mother figure
mother someone
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Word forms
- Plural
- mothers
- Third person singular
- mothers
- Past tense
- mothered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ taught her to bake when she was six.
Etymology
From Old English modor, from a very old Proto-Indo-European root that also gave us "matter", "matrix" and "Madeira".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for mother
See all rhymes for mother →Frequently asked questions
What does “mother” mean?
The word “mother” means a female parent. In plain terms, a female parent, or, more broadly, the origin of something, or the act of caring for someone protectively.
How do you pronounce “mother”?
“Mother” is pronounced MUHTH-uh (/ˈmʌðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mother” in a sentence?
Here is “mother” used in a sentence: “Her mother taught her to bake when she was six.”
What is another word for “mother”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mother” include dam, mater, matriarch, Colloquial or slang synonyms:, ma and mama.
What is the opposite of “mother”?
The opposite of “mother” — its antonyms — are father, daughter, son, child and offspring.
What part of speech is “mother”?
Depending on how it is used, “mother” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mother” come from?
The word “mother” comes from Old English. From Old English modor, from a very old Proto-Indo-European root that also gave us "matter", "matrix" and "Madeira".
Is “mother” a common word?
“Mother” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a mother and a mom?
They refer to the same person — a female parent — but differ in tone. 'Mother' is more formal and is used in writing, respectful speech, or when talking about her in general. 'Mom' (or 'mum' in British English) is the warm, informal name a child actually calls her.
What is the difference between a mother and a stepmother?
A mother is a person's own female parent, related by birth or adoption. A stepmother is the wife of someone's father who is not that child's biological or adoptive parent. She joins the family through marriage rather than by giving birth to or adopting the child.
What are some other words for mother?
Informal and affectionate options include mom, mum, mama, and ma. More formal or descriptive terms include parent and, for the head of a family line, matriarch. The choice usually depends on how formal you want to sound and whether you are addressing her or describing her.
What is the opposite of mother?
There is no exact opposite, but the natural counterpart is 'father,' the male parent. In the sense of parent versus offspring, the opposite would be 'child,' 'son,' or 'daughter.' Which one fits depends on whether you are contrasting the two parents or the two generations.
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