alma mater
Use Alma mater in a sentence
mə ˈmɑ noun
1.
a school, college, or university at which one has studied and, usually, from which one has graduated.
2.
the official anthem of a school, college, or university.
Origin:
< Latin: nourishing (i.e., dear) mother
< Latin: nourishing (i.e., dear) mother
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To alma mater
Collins
World English Dictionary
alma mater (ˈælmə ˈmɑːtə, ˈmeɪtə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| (often capitals) one's school, college, or university | |
| [C17: from Latin: bountiful mother] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Alma mater
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
Alma Mater
late 14c., from L., lit. "bountiful mother," title Romans gave to goddesses, especially Ceres and Cybele, from alma, fem. of almus "nourishing," from alere "to nourish" (see old) + mater "mother." First used 1710 in sense of "one's university or school" in ref. to British universities.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
alma mater [(al-muh mah-tuhr, ahl-muh mah-tuhr)]The school or university from which one graduated. The term also refers to a school's official song: “The reunion began with everyone singing the alma mater.” From Latin, meaning “nurturing mother.”
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
alma mater
Also, Alma Mater. The school or college one attended and, usually, graduated from, as in During football season I always check to see how my alma mater is doing. This expression sometimes refers to the institution's official song, as in I never did learn the words to my college's alma mater. The term is Latin for "kind mother." [c. 1800]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
My dream was to come back to my alma mater for undergrad and be a professor.
You've watched your alma mater put up a fight all season, and now the bragging rights come down to one game.
Support your alma mater and the schools in your area with interest and understanding as well as gifts.
He said his most challenging job was as a graduate assistant for Drake, his alma mater, in 1995 and '96.
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