mum

1
[ muhm ]
See synonyms for mum on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. silent; not saying a word: to keep mum.

interjection
  1. (used to demand immediate silence.)

Idioms about mum

  1. 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

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English momme; imitative

Other definitions for mum (2 of 6)

mum2

or mumm

[ muhm ]

verb (used without object),mummed, mum·ming.
  1. to say “mum”; call for silence.

  2. to act as a mummer.

Origin of mum

2
First 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 ]

Origin of mum

3
First recorded in 1890–95; shortened form

Other definitions for mum (4 of 6)

mum4
[ muhm ]

nounChiefly British.

Origin of mum

4
First recorded in 1815–25; nursery word; see mom

Other definitions for mum (5 of 6)

mum5
[ muhm ]

noun
  1. a strong beer or ale, first made in Brunswick, Germany.

Origin of mum

5
First recorded in 1630–40; from German Mumme, said to have been named after Christian Mumme, the brewer who made it

Other definitions for mum (6 of 6)

mum6
[ muhm ]

nounChiefly British.

Origin of mum

6
Variant of ma'am

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use mum in a sentence

  • Charging the bulwark of News of the World recently was an army of angry mums.

  • Of course, even at that time, she and Mums had both been sure she was born to play "Dolores," and that Elsa wasn't.

    Vision House | C. N. Williamson
  • But Marise, who knew what poor Mums's past had been, understood the passion and even felt the thrill of it.

    Vision House | C. N. Williamson
  • Marise admired Tony, and was very proud of her conquest, though she would admit that to no one except Mums.

    Vision House | C. N. Williamson
  • In striving to frame them she would surely laugh, and Mums would think her a callous wretch.

    Vision House | C. N. Williamson
  • After a few minutes' reflection, the girl decided that she would not confess to Mums what she had done.

    Vision House | C. N. Williamson

British Dictionary definitions for mum (1 of 4)

mum1

/ (mʌm) /


noun
  1. mainly British an informal word for mother 1

Origin of mum

1
C19: a child's word

British Dictionary definitions for mum (2 of 4)

mum2

/ (mʌm) /


adjective
  1. keeping information to oneself; silent

noun
  1. mum's the word silence or secrecy is to be observed

Origin of mum

2
C14: suggestive of closed lips

British Dictionary definitions for mum (3 of 4)

mum3

mumm

/ (mʌm) /


verbmums, mumming or mummed
  1. (intr) to act in a mummer's play

Origin of mum

3
C16: verbal use of mum ²

British Dictionary definitions for mum (4 of 4)

mum4

/ (mʌm) /


noun
  1. British obsolete a type of beer made from cereals, beans, etc

Origin of mum

4
C17: 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