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Mother

Mother

110 7.5
A title for the woman who leads a group of nuns
  • noun
  • /ˈmʌðər/
  • Formal
: madre
  • Beatrix Potter was thus the mother of the modern picture storybook, and Peter Rabbit the firstborn.

Examples

  • As the Mother of the convent, she guided her sisters with wisdom and compassion.

  • The new Mother at the abbey made it her mission to foster a nurturing environment.

  • Mother, Mother, come and play.

  • Did you put Mother's needs before your own?

  • Occasionally, when life becomes mundane, I ask Mother, "What is the purpose of life?"

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Due to economic constraints, Santiago's mother did not enroll him in activities outside of the school setting.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Every year, the community gathers to honor the Mother for her dedication and leadership.

Synonyms

mother superior
vsMother
10 7.8

A woman who is in charge of a group of nuns in a convent

is a formal title used to address that leader in religious orders

Idioms

mother of all
  • Informal
35 7.8

A very large, extreme event like a storm or party

fuck your mother
  • Offensive
7 9.9

A very rude insult that shows extreme anger at someone by insulting their mother

A strong cry showing surprise or shock

Compounds

126 1.6

The mother of your husband or wife

62 3.6

A woman who has a baby but is not the child's legal or social mother

mother lode
  • Informal
19 6.8

A large rich source of valuable things like gold or information

16 3.0

A woman who cares for a child who is not her own

queen mother
  • Formal
14 6.1

The mother of the current king or queen who keeps the title after her child becomes ruler

A woman who becomes pregnant to have a baby for another person or couple

12 3.4

A woman who has a child and is not married

A woman who is in charge of a group of nuns in a convent

A smooth shiny layer inside some shells that shows rainbow colours and is used for decoration

The first language a person learns at home

Mother Goose
  • Literature
6 4.5

An imaginary old woman who writes nursery rhymes and fairy tales

5 6.7

A woman who looks after and supports a group of children or young people

mother hen
  • Informal
5 5.1

A person who cares for and protects others and often worries about them

A woman who cares for and guides someone like a parent

A woman who cares for someone like a mother, often with or instead of their own mother

The country where you were born or the one you feel most connected to

3 9.1

A figure in modern spiritual beliefs who represents Earth as a caring mother

2 4.5

A caring person who loves nature, grows plants, and helps others with gardening

earth mother
  • Literature
2 8.5

A female spirit who represents the Earth and gives life and fertility

den mother
  • Jargon
1 6.5

A woman who leads a small group of Cub Scouts and plans their activities

Great Mother
  • Literature
1 9.9

An ancient Phrygian goddess worshipped for nature and fertility, often shown with lions

1 2.9

A hen that has chicks and cares for them

Mother Hubbard
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A loose dress without a belt that falls straight from the shoulders, with a high neck and long sleeves

1 7.7

A very strong storm that causes great damage and danger

1 9.9

A mother wrongly blamed in the past for causing her child's autism because she seemed cold

mother cell
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A cell that makes another cell during the growth or reproduction of a living thing

1 9.9

Natural practical sense a person is born with, not learned at school

An indoor plant with large dark leaves that can make your tongue and throat swell if eaten

A woman who cares for a child who is not her own

A houseplant with long upright thick leaves often called snake plant

A cupboard or pantry that has no food

1 9.9

Completely without clothes like a new baby

A low, fragrant plant with small purple and white flowers that grows close to the ground

A high cloud that looks shiny with rainbow colors around sunrise or after sunset

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

A small seabird that flies low over the sea, often near storms

A busy place that helps people and ideas grow

A place where many skilled craft workers learn and make things

Mother Thumb
  • Baby Talk
8.6

A small nursery rhyme character a child shows on their thumb to teach finger names

A simple game for children using the thumb and four fingers to help them move well

spore mother cell
  • Specialized
9.3

A cell in plants, fungi, or algae that divides to make four spores with half the usual genes

Surface Forms

Mother singular
Mothers plural

Etymology

Mother comes from a very old baby sound — the simple ma or mama that babies say for their 'mother', and this sound became the word for a female parent in many languages. That's why in some churches a respected woman leader is called Mother: she is seen as the caring 'mother' or head of the community.