- mother
- I
moth•er[[t]ˈmʌð ər[/t]] n.1) a female who has borne offspring; female parent2) (often cap.) one's own mother3) a mother-in-law, stepmother, adoptive mother, or foster mother4) a woman looked upon as a mother, or exercising authority like that of a mother5) a term of familiar address for an elderly woman6) the qualities characteristic of a mother, as maternal affection7) something that gives rise to or exercises protective care over something else8) relmother superior9) being a mother:a mother bird[/ex]10) pertaining to or characteristic of a mother:mother love[/ex]11) derived from or as if from one's mother; native:his mother culture[/ex]12) bearing a relation like that of a mother, as in being the origin, source, or protector:a mother church[/ex]13) to be the mother of14) to give origin or rise to15) to care for or protect like a mother•Etymology: bef. 900; ME mother, moder, OE mōdor; c. OFris, OSmōdar, OHGmuotar, L māter, Gk mḗtēr, Skt mātar- moth′er•less, adj. IImoth•er[[t]ˈmʌð ər[/t]] n.mcr a stringy, viscid film of yeast cells and various bacteria that forms on a fermenting liquid and is used to ferment other liquids, as in changing cider to vinegar•Etymology: 1530–40; perh. identical with mother I, but cf. D modder dregs, MLG moder swampy land IIImoth•er[[t]ˈmʌð ər[/t]] n. Slang: Sometimes Vulgar.1) cvbmotherfucker2) cvb a person or thing that is very large, powerful, or impressive•Etymology: 1930–35
From formal English to slang. 2014.