Mum
Pronunciation
- IPA: /mÊŒm/
- Rhymes: -ÊŒm
Origin 1
Alternative form of mam, or an abbreviation of mummy. Compare mom, mama.
Full definition of mum
Noun
mum
(plural mums)- (UK, Australia, Canada, New England, informal) Mother.
- 1993, Hilda Hollingsworth, Places of Greater Safety, Zenobia Press edition, %22mums%22+-intitle:%22mum|mums%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hEa3T5WXO4zGmQXJ-YHGAQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22mum%22|%22mums%22%20-intitle%3A%22mum|mums%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 278,'Ooh Mum, Auntie don′t allow smokin’ - Pat′s eyes were round with awe as Mum struck a match.
- 2004, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen, Irene Dunlap, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2, %22mums%22+-intitle:%22mum|mums%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5563T7CzGoLAiQfJpdSDCQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22mum%22|%22mums%22%20-intitle%3A%22mum|mums%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 336,Her mum says that she is deaf and only partially sighted, so I need to go and stand in front of her, so she can see the gift.
- 2006, Kathryn Lasky, , %22mums%22+-intitle:%22mum|mums%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sou3T5iWB7DNmQXV0eDXCQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22mum%22|%22mums%22%20-intitle%3A%22mum|mums%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 88,“Mum! Mum!†he shouted out. The laughter stopped. Two bright, sparkling yellow eyes peeped from the hollow. Atop her head were the fluffy ear tufts that his mum was so proud of because they were fuller and lovelier than those of most Great Horned Owls. It was indeed his mum!
- 2011, Chyna, FAM: Rolling in a London Girl Gang, %22mums%22+-intitle:%22mum|mums%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sou3T5iWB7DNmQXV0eDXCQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22mum%22|%22mums%22%20-intitle%3A%22mum|mums%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false unnumbered page,He′s looking at my mum, at her swollen eyes, busted nose and bloodied lips. She′s mashed up something chronic, and the man who did this to her is my dad.
- (dated) A term of respect for an older woman.
- 1840, Charles Dickens, '', Volume 1, 1851, %22mums%22+-intitle:%22mum|mums%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hEa3T5WXO4zGmQXJ-YHGAQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22mum%22|%22mums%22%20-intitle%3A%22mum|mums%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 130,“Wy, mum,†said Mr. Weller, “I don′t think you′ll see a many sich, and that′s the truth. But if my son Samivel vould give me my vay, mum, and dis-pense with his—might I wenter to say the vurd?â€â€œWhat word Mr Weller?†said the housekeeper, blushing slightly.“Petticuts, mum,†returned that gentleman, laying his had upon the garments of his grandson. “If my son Samivel vould only dis-pense vith these here, you′d see sich a alteration in his appearance, as the imagination can′t depicter!â€
- 1885, Mark Twain, , 2011, %22mums%22+-intitle:%22mum|mums%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hEa3T5WXO4zGmQXJ-YHGAQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22mum%22|%22mums%22%20-intitle%3A%22mum|mums%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false unnumbered page,Then she took off her hank and looked me straight in the face, and very pleasant, and says:“Come, now, what′s your real name?“Wh -- what, mum?â€â€œWhat′s your real name? Is it Bill, or Tom, or Bob? -- Or what is it?â€
Usage notes
Mum is only capitalized when used as a proper noun:
I don't think Mum will like you.
I don't think my mum will like you.
In New England, the word may still be spelt "mom", but it will have the pronunciation of "mum."
Synonyms
Origin 2
Abbreviation of chrysanthemum.
Origin 3
From Middle English mum or mom ("silent"), reminiscent of the sound made when gagged or with a hand over one's mouth. Perhaps related to German Mumme ("mask").
Adjective
mum
Derived terms
Origin 4
German Mummere, named after Christian Mumme, who first brewed it in 1492.