alma mater
[ ahl-muh mah-ter, al-; al-muh mey-ter ]
/ ˈɑl mə ˈmɑ tər, ˈæl-; ˈæl mə ˈmeɪ tər /
noun
a school, college, or university at which one has studied and, usually, from which one has graduated.
the official anthem of a school, college, or university.
Origin of alma mater
< Latin: nourishing (i.e., dear) mother
Words nearby alma mater
allylic,
allylthiourea,
allyou,
alm,
alma,
alma mater,
alma-ata,
alma-tadema,
almada,
almadén,
almagest
British Dictionary definitions for alma mater
alma mater
/ (ˈælmə ˈmɑːtə, ˈmeɪtə) /
noun
(often capitals)
one's school, college, or university
Word Origin for alma mater
C17: from Latin: bountiful mother
Cultural definitions for alma mater
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.”
Idioms and Phrases with alma mater
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]