mother
5
1.0
- noun
- /ˈmʌðər/
- She affectionately referred to her neighbor as Mother for her kind nature and wisdom.
Examples
-
At the community center, everyone admired the elderly woman known as Mother for her nurturing spirit.
-
Inside her tent, the new mother washed and made herself lovely and fragrant.
Academic text (1992) -
But, you know, my mother, Mac, rest in peace.
-
To talk of food is to talk of mothers, at least for me.
Academic text (2008) -
Most Romans love her as their mother.
-
" We had left a card with her, but it turned out the mother couldn't read or understand English.
Academic text (2011) -
She is the ultimate mother, even to me.
-
I had the impression that you were something of a mother hen where your brother was concerned.
Fiction book (1990) -
For example, to become a mother in this culture defines the core identity of womanhood.
Academic text (1990) -
You all watched and listened as I became a mother as well as a librarian.
Academic text (2013)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A polite or respectful word for a woman
399
3.2
A polite way to address a woman in a position of authority
3
9.5
An older woman who is friendly and likes to chat
1
9.9
A polite way to call a woman, like madam
1
9.7
A loving name for an older woman used like a grandmother
1
9.7
A respectful name for an older sister or older woman
1
8.0
A polite name people use for an older woman who is not family
1
9.2
A loving name family members use for a grandmother
Idioms
- Offensive
7
9.9
A very rude insult that shows extreme anger at someone by insulting their mother
Compounds
- Formal
14
6.1
The mother of the current king or queen who keeps the title after her child becomes ruler
7
6.0
A smooth shiny layer inside some shells that shows rainbow colours and is used for decoration
3
4.3
A woman who cares for someone like a mother, often with or instead of their own mother
- Literature
1
9.9
An ancient Phrygian goddess worshipped for nature and fertility, often shown with lions
- Archaic
1
9.9
A loose dress without a belt that falls straight from the shoulders, with a high neck and long sleeves
- Slur
1
9.9
A mother wrongly blamed in the past for causing her child's autism because she seemed cold
- Specialized
1
6.5
A cell that makes another cell during the growth or reproduction of a living thing
1
8.8
An indoor plant with large dark leaves that can make your tongue and throat swell if eaten
1
9.9
A low, fragrant plant with small purple and white flowers that grows close to the ground
1
9.9
A high cloud that looks shiny with rainbow colors around sunrise or after sunset
1
9.9
A small plant with many red and white flowers that spreads by long thin stems
A small seabird that flies low over the sea and often appears before storms
- Baby Talk
A small nursery rhyme character a child shows on their thumb to teach finger names
- Baby Talk
A simple game for children using the thumb and four fingers to help them move well
- Specialized
A cell in plants, fungi, or algae that divides to make four spores with half the usual genes
Surface Forms
Etymology
Mother is also used as a respectful name for an older woman because the same old root means 'one who cares and protects'. Calling someone mother shows respect and thanks for their care.