MOTHER
Dictionary entry overview: What does mother mean?
• MOTHER (noun)
The noun MOTHER has 5 senses:
1. a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
2. a stringy slimy substance consisting of yeast cells and bacteria; forms during fermentation and is added to cider or wine to produce vinegar
3. a term of address for an elderly woman
4. a term of address for a mother superior
5. a condition that is the inspiration for an activity or situation
Familiarity information: MOTHER used as a noun is common.
• MOTHER (verb)
The verb MOTHER has 2 senses:
1. care for like a mother
2. make children
Familiarity information: MOTHER used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• MOTHER (noun)
Meaning:
A woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
female parent; mother
Context example:
the mother of three children
Hypernyms ("mother" is a kind of...):
parent (a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mother"):
ma; mama; mamma; mammy; mom; momma; mommy; mum; mummy (informal terms for a mother)
surrogate mother (a woman who bears a child for a couple where the wife is unable to do so)
supermom (an informal term for a mother who can combine childcare and full-time employment)
quintipara ((obstetrics) woman who has given birth to a viable infant in each of five pregnancies)
quadripara ((obstetrics) woman who has given birth to a viable infant in each of four pregnancies)
puerpera (a woman in childbirth or shortly thereafter)
para I; primipara ((obstetrics) woman who has been delivered of a child for the first time)
mother-in-law (the mother of your spouse)
mater (an informal use of the Latin word for mother; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously)
Instance hyponyms:
Blessed Virgin; Madonna; Mary; The Virgin; Virgin Mary (the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics)
Antonym:
father (a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father))
Meaning:
A stringy slimy substance consisting of yeast cells and bacteria; forms during fermentation and is added to cider or wine to produce vinegar
Classified under:
Nouns denoting substances
Hypernyms ("mother" is a kind of...):
barm; yeast (a commercial leavening agent containing yeast cells; used to raise the dough in making bread and for fermenting beer or whiskey)
Meaning:
A term of address for an elderly woman
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("mother" is a kind of...):
old woman (a woman who is old)
Meaning:
A term of address for a mother superior
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("mother" is a kind of...):
abbess; mother superior; prioress (the superior of a group of nuns)
Meaning:
A condition that is the inspiration for an activity or situation
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Context example:
necessity is the mother of invention
Hypernyms ("mother" is a kind of...):
inspiration (arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity)
• MOTHER (verb)
Meaning:
Care for like a mother
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
mother; overprotect; fuss
Context example:
She fusses over her husband
Hypernyms (to "mother" is one way to...):
care; give care (provide care for)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Make children
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
beget; sire; father; mother; engender; generate; bring forth; get
Context examples:
Abraham begot Isaac / Men often father children but don't recognize them
Hypernyms (to "mother" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
