a woman exercising control, influence, or authority like that of a mother: to be a mother to someone.
8.
the qualities characteristic of a mother, as maternal affection: It is the mother in her showing itself.
9.
something or someone that gives rise to or exercises protecting care over something else; origin or source.
10.
(in disc recording) a mold from which stampers are made.
–adjective
11.
being a mother: a mother bird.
12.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a mother: mother love.
13.
derived from or as if from one's mother; native: his mother culture.
14.
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.
–verb (used with object)
15.
to be the mother of; give origin or rise to.
16.
to acknowledge oneself the author of; assume as one's own.
17.
to care for or protect like a mother; act maternally toward.
–verb (used without object)
18.
to perform the tasks or duties of a female parent; act maternally: a woman with a need to mother.
—Idiom
19.
mother of all, the greatest or most notable example of: the mother of all mystery novels.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME mother, moder, OE mōdor; c. D moeder, G Mutter, ON mōthir, L māter, Gk mtér, Skt mātar-. As in father,th was substituted for d, possibly on the model of brother]
a 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.
A female person who is pregnant with or gives birth to a child.
A female person whose egg unites with a sperm, resulting in the conception of a child.
A woman who adopts a child.
A woman who raises a child.
A mother superior.
Used as a form of address for such a woman.
A female parent of an animal.
A female ancestor.
A woman who holds a position of authority or responsibility similar to that of a mother: a den mother.
Roman Catholic Church
A mother superior.
Used as a form of address for such a woman.
A woman who creates, originates, or founds something: "the discovery of radium, which made Marie Curie mother to the Atomic Age"(Alden Whitman).
A creative source; an origin: Philosophy is the mother of the sciences.
Used as a title for a woman respected for her wisdom and age.
Maternal love and tenderness: brought out the mother in her.
The biggest or most significant example of its kind: the mother of all battles.
Vulgar Slang Something considered extraordinary, as in disagreeableness, size, or intensity.
adj.
Relating to or being mother.
Characteristic of a mother: mother love.
Being the source or origin: the mother church.
Derived from or as if from one's mother; native: one's mother language.
v.
moth·ered, moth·er·ing, moth·ers
v.
tr.
To give birth to; create and produce.
To watch over, nourish, and protect maternally.
v.
intr.
To act or serve as a mother.
[Middle English moder, mother, from Old English mōdor; see māter- in Indo-European roots. N., sense 10, translation of Iraqi Arabic 'umm. N., sense 11, short for motherfucker.]
moth·er 2Audio Help (mŭth'ər) Pronunciation Key
n.
A stringy slime composed of yeast cells and bacteria that forms on the surface of fermenting liquids and is added to wine or cider to start the production of vinegar.
[Probably alteration (influenced by mother1) of obsolete Dutch moeder, from Middle Dutch, probably from moeder, mother of children; see māter- in Indo-European roots.]
O.E. modor, from P.Gmc. *mothær (cf. O.S. modar, Dan. moder, Du. moeder, Ger. Mutter), from PIE *mater- (cf. L. mater, O.Ir. mathir, Lith. mote, Skt. matar-, Gk. meter, O.C.S. mati). Spelling with -th- dates from early 16c., though that pronunciation is probably older. The verb meaning "to take care of" is first recorded 1863. Mother nature first attested 1601; mother earth is from 1586. Mother tongue "one's native language" first attested c.1380. Mother's Day set by act of Congress, May 9, 1908. Mother of all ________ 1991, is Gulf War slang, from Saddam Hueein's use in ref. to the coming battle; it is an Arabic idiom, cf. Ayesha, second wife of Muhammad, known as Mother of Believers.Mother Carey's chickens is late 18c. sailors' nickname for storm petrels, or for snowflakes.
Mad"re*pore\, n. [F. madrepore, perh. fr. madr['e] spotted, fr. OF. madre, mazre, a kind of knotty wood with brown spots, fr. OHG. masar a knot, grain, or vein in wood, a speck, G. maser + pore (see Pore); or perh. F. madr['e]pore is rather from It. madrepora, and this perh. fr. It. madre mother (see Mother) + Gr. ? a soft stone.] (Zo["o]l.) Any coral of the genus Madrepora; formerly, often applied to any stony coral.
Ma*ter"nal\, a. [F. maternel, L. maternus, fr. mater mother. See Mother.] Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly; as, maternal love; maternal tenderness. Syn: See Motherly.
Mat"ri*cide\, n. [L. matricidium; mater mother + coedere to kill, slay: cf. F. matricide. See Mother, and cf. Homicide.]1. The murder of a mother by her son or daughter. 2. [L. matricida: cf. F. matricide.] One who murders one's own mother.
Mat"ri*mo*ny\, n. [OE. matrimoine, through Old French, fr. L. matrimonium, fr. mater mother. See Mother.]1. The union of man and woman as husband and wife; the nuptial state; marriage; wedlock. If either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confessit. --Book of Com. Prayer (Eng. Ed. ) 2. A kind of game at cards played by several persons. Matrimony vine (Bot.), a climbing thorny vine (Lycium barbarum) of the Potato family. --Gray. Syn: Marriage; wedlock. See Marriage.
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Audio Help [muhth
tér, Skt mātar-. As in father, th was substituted for d, possibly on the model of brother
