Idioms for mother

    mother of all, the greatest or most notable example of: the mother of all mystery novels.

Origin of mother

1
before 900; Middle English mother, moder, Old English mōdor; cognate with Dutch moeder, German Mutter, Old Norse mōthir, Latin māter, Greek mḗtēr, Sanskrit mātar-. As in father, th was substituted for d, possibly on the model of brother

OTHER WORDS FROM mother

moth·er·less, adjective moth·er·less·ness, noun un·moth·ered, adjective

Definition for mother (2 of 3)

mother 2
[ muhth-er ]
/ ˈmʌð ər /

noun

a stringy, mucilaginous substance consisting of various bacteria, especially 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.
Also called mother of vinegar.

Origin of mother

2
1530–40; probably special use of mother1, but perhaps another word, akin to Dutch modder dregs, Middle Low German moder swampy land; see mud

Definition for mother (3 of 3)

mother 3
[ muhth-er ]
/ ˈmʌð ər /

noun Slang: Vulgar.

a person or thing that is very large, powerful, or impressive.

Origin of mother

3
First recorded in 1945–50; euphemistic shortening

Example sentences from the Web for mother

British Dictionary definitions for mother (1 of 2)

mother 1
/ (ˈmʌðə) /

noun

verb (tr)

to give birth to or produce
to nurture, protect, etc as a mother

Other words from mother

Related adjective: maternal

Derived forms of mother

mothering, noun

Word Origin for mother

Old English mōdor; compare Old Saxon mōdar, Old High German muotar, Latin māter, Greek mētēr

British Dictionary definitions for mother (2 of 2)

mother 2
/ (ˈmʌðə) /

noun

a stringy slime containing various bacteria that forms on the surface of liquids undergoing acetous fermentation. It can be added to wine, cider, etc to promote vinegar formation Also called: mother of vinegar

Derived forms of mother

mothery, adjective

Word Origin for mother

C16: perhaps from mother 1, but compare Spanish madre scum, Dutch modder dregs, Middle Low German modder decaying object, mudde sludge

Medical definitions for mother

mother
[ mŭðər ]

n.

A woman who conceives, gives birth to, or raises and nurtures a child.
A female parent of an animal.
A structure, such as a mother cell, from which other similar bodies are formed.

Idioms and Phrases with mother

mother