mother Definition

mother
noun

1. A female parent. Also as adj.

Example: mother hen
Thesaurus: parent, matriarch, mum, mummy, mom (US), mommy (US), mama.
2. The protective, nurturing, or loving qualities associated with a mother. Also as adj.

Example: brings out the mother in her
Example: mother figure
Example: mother love
Form: the mother (usually)
3a. As a term of address or a title for: one's own female parent or stepmother, foster-mother, etc. See also mum, mummy;

Form: Mother (also)
3b. As a term of address or a title for:the head of a Christian female religious community;

Form: Mother (also)
Form: Mother Superior
3c. old use
As a term of address or a title for:an old woman;
Form: Mother (also)
3d. As a term of address or a title for: an ancestress.

Form: Mother (also)
4. The cause or origin; the source from which other things have sprung or developed. Also as adj.

Example: Necessity is the mother of invention
Example: mother cell
Example: mother church
Example: mother earth

verb mothered, mothering

1. To give birth to or give rise to someone or something.
2. To treat someone with care and protection, especially excessively so.

Thesaurus: care for, nurture, tend, rear, protect, pamper, spoil, cosset, fuss over, baby, cherish; Antonym: neglect.

Derivative: motherhood
noun

The state or condition of being a mother.

Derivative: motherless
adj

Derivative: motherly

See separate entry.

Idiom: to be mother

colloq, facetious
To pour the tea or dish out the food
Example: Shall I be mother?

Idiom: every mother's son

Every man, without exception.

Idiom: the mother and father of a something (the mother and father of all somethings)

colloq
One that is bigger than any other.
Example: the mother and father of a hangover

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon modor.