mum
1[ muhm ]
adjective
silent; not saying a word: to keep mum.
interjection
(used to demand immediate silence.)
Idioms about mum
mum's the word, do not reveal what you know (about something); keep silent: Mum's the word, or the surprise party won't be a surprise.
Origin of mum
1First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English momme; imitative
Other definitions for mum (2 of 6)
mum2
or mumm
[ muhm ]
Origin of mum
2First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mommen, verb use of mum1; compare Middle Dutch mommen ”to act the mummer's part”
Other definitions for mum (3 of 6)
mum3
[ muhm ]
noun
Origin of mum
3First recorded in 1890–95; shortened form
Other definitions for mum (4 of 6)
mum4
[ muhm ]
Origin of mum
4First recorded in 1815–25; nursery word; see mom
Other definitions for mum (5 of 6)
mum5
[ muhm ]
noun
a strong beer or ale, first made in Brunswick, Germany.
Origin of mum
5First recorded in 1630–40; from German Mumme, said to have been named after Christian Mumme, the brewer who made it
British Dictionary definitions for mum (1 of 4)
mum1
/ (mʌm) /
noun
mainly British an informal word for mother 1
Origin of mum
1C19: a child's word
British Dictionary definitions for mum (2 of 4)
mum2
/ (mʌm) /
adjective
keeping information to oneself; silent
noun
mum's the word silence or secrecy is to be observed
Origin of mum
2C14: suggestive of closed lips
British Dictionary definitions for mum (3 of 4)
mum3
mumm
/ (mʌm) /
verbmums, mumming or mummed
(intr) to act in a mummer's play
Origin of mum
3C16: verbal use of mum ²
British Dictionary definitions for mum (4 of 4)
mum4
/ (mʌm) /
noun
British obsolete a type of beer made from cereals, beans, etc
Origin of mum
4C17: from German Mumme, perhaps from the name of its original brewer
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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