Dictionary
moth•er
Pronunciation: (mu&thslash;'ur), [key]—
n.
1. a female parent.
2. (often cap.) one's female parent.
3. a mother-in-law, stepmother, or adoptive mother.
4. a term of address for a female parent or a woman having or regarded as having the status, function, or authority of a female parent.
5. a term of familiar address for an old or elderly woman.
6. See
mother superior.
7. a woman exercising control, influence, or authority like that of a mother:
to be a mother to someone.
8. the qualities characteristic of a mother, as maternal affection:
It is the mother in her showing itself.
9. something or someone that gives rise to or exercises protecting care over something else; origin or source.
10. (in disc recording) a mold from which stampers are made.
11. mother of all, the greatest or most notable example of:
the mother of all mystery novels.
—
adj.
1. being a mother:
a mother bird.
2. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a mother:
mother love.
3. derived from or as if from one's mother; native:
his mother culture.
4. bearing a relation like that of a mother, as in being the origin, source, or protector:
the mother company and its affiliates; the mother computer and its network of terminals.
—
v.t.
1. to be the mother of; give origin or rise to.
2. to acknowledge oneself the author of; assume as one's own.
3. to care for or protect like a mother; act maternally toward.
—
v.i.
to perform the tasks or duties of a female parent; act maternally:
a woman with a need to mother. moth•er
Pronunciation: (mu&thslash;'ur), [key]—
n.
a stringy, mucilaginous substance consisting of various bacteria, esp.
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. moth•er
Pronunciation: (mu&thslash;'ur), [key]—
n. Slang (vulgar).
1. motherfucker.
2. a person or thing that is very large, powerful, or impressive.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
