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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024moth•er1 /ˈmʌðɚ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- a female parent:His mother died when he was young.
- [often: Mother* no article] one's own mother.
- a woman looked upon as a mother, or who exercises authority like that of a mother.
- something that gives rise to something else:Necessity is the mother of invention.
- the mother of, the greatest, most powerful, most outstanding example of (something mentioned next):the mother of all wars.
adj. [before a noun] - being a mother:a mother bird.
- relating to or characteristic of a mother:mother love.
- derived from or as if from one's mother;
native:his mother culture.
v. [~ + object] - to care for or protect like a mother:She mothered her children wisely.
moth•er•less, adj. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024moth•er1 (muᵺ′ər),USA pronunciation n. - a female parent.
- (often cap.) one's female parent.
- a mother-in-law, stepmother, or adoptive mother.
- a term of address for a female parent or a woman having or regarded as having the status, function, or authority of a female parent.
- a term of familiar address for an old or elderly woman.
- ReligionSee mother superior.
- a woman exercising control, influence, or authority like that of a mother:to be a mother to someone.
- the qualities characteristic of a mother, as maternal affection:It is the mother in her showing itself.
- something or someone that gives rise to or exercises protecting care over something else;
origin or source. - Sound Reproduction(in disc recording) a mold from which stampers are made.
- Idioms mother of all, the greatest or most notable example of:the mother of all mystery novels.
adj. - being a mother:a mother bird.
- of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a mother:mother love.
- derived from or as if from one's mother;
native:his mother culture. - bearing a relation like that of a mother, as in being the origin, source, or protector:the mother company and its affiliates; the mother computer and its network of terminals.
v.t. - to be the mother of;
give origin or rise to. - to acknowledge oneself the author of;
assume as one's own. - to care for or protect like a mother;
act maternally toward.
v.i. - to perform the tasks or duties of a female parent;
act maternally:a woman with a need to mother.
- bef. 900; Middle English mother, moder, Old English mōdor; cognate with Dutch moeder, German Mutter, Old Norse mōthir, Latin māter, Greek mé̄tēr, Sanskrit mātar-. As in father, th was substituted for d, possibly on the model of brother
- 18.See corresponding entry in Unabridged tend, nurse, mind, raise.
moth•er2 (muᵺ′ər),USA pronunciation n. - Microbiology, Slang Termsa stringy, mucilaginous substance consisting of various bacteria, esp. Mycoderma aceti, that forms on the surface of a fermenting liquid and causes fermentation when added to other liquids, as in changing wine or cider to vinegar. Also called mother of vinegar.
- 1530–40; probably special use of mother1, but perh. another word, akin to Dutch modder dregs, Middle Low German moder swampy land; see mud
- motherfucker.
- a person or thing that is very large, powerful, or impressive.
- euphemistic shortening 1945–50
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