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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

mum en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /mʌm/
  • /mʊm/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

Alternative form of mam, or an abbreviation of mummy. Compare mom, mama.

Meanings

  1. (Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New-England, New-Zealand, Singapore, South-Africa, UK, informal) mother
    • 2011, Chyna, FAM: Rolling in a London Girl Gang, 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.
    • 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. 2004, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen, Irene Dunlap, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2, page 336:
    • “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! 2006, Kathryn Lasky, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Book 11: To Be a King, page 88
    • From the Marvel Mixmaster to the Miracle Microwave, every time a new-fangled gadget has lobbed into the Aussie kitchen, Aussie mums have changed their cooking styles accordingly. 1987, Kerry Cue, Hang On To Your Horses Doovers, page 5:
    • 'Ooh Mum, Auntie don′t allow smokin’ - Pat′s eyes were round with awe as Mum struck a match. 1993, Hilda Hollingsworth, Places of Greater Safety, Zenobia Press edition, page 278:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
Mom alternative lexicographic
mam alternative lexicographic
mums Number=Plur lexicographic
mom alternative lexicographic
Mum alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

mumoir · ballet mum · suck your mum · be mum · mum jeans · mumpreneur · mum-in-law · mumfluencer · queen mum · your mum · gymslip mum · wine mum · grandmum · stepmum · supermum · tiger mum · bank of mum and dad · mumsy · mumhood · soccer mum · mumness

Translations (162)

alt эне (mother (informal, familiar)) · sh mȁma (mother (informal, familiar)) · nl mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · uk мату́ся (mother (informal, familiar)) · de Mami (mother (informal, familiar)) · ms ibu (mother (informal, familiar)) · hrx Mamma (mother (informal, familiar)) · fi äiskä (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru ма́мка (mother (informal, familiar)) · sq mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · ga mam (mother (informal, familiar)) · th คุณแม่ (mother (informal, familiar)) · dsb mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · sw nina (mother (informal, familiar)) · lv mamma (mother (informal, familiar)) · fa-ira مام (mother (informal, familiar)) · ln mamá (mother (informal, familiar)) · kmr dayik (mother (informal, familiar)) · twf(mother (informal, familiar)) · bg ма́ма (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru маму́ля (mother (informal, familiar)) · ko 어머니 (mother (informal, familiar)) · de Mom (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru ма́тушка (mother (informal, familiar)) · arz مامى (mother (informal, familiar)) · hy մայրիկ (mother (informal, familiar)) · fi mutsi (mother (informal, familiar)) · pt mamãe (mother (informal, familiar)) · ee(mother (informal, familiar)) · ms bu (mother (informal, familiar)) · av баба (mother (informal, familiar)) · twf łáʼȕ (mother (informal, familiar)) · ka დედიკო (mother (informal, familiar)) · lv māmiņa (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru мам (mother (informal, familiar)) · he אִמָּא (mother (informal, familiar)) · gd mamaidh (mother (informal, familiar)) · ms mak (mother (informal, familiar)) · apc إم (mother (informal, familiar)) · ca mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · tt әни (mother (informal, familiar)) · sv mamma (mother (informal, familiar)) · et amm (mother (informal, familiar)) · ml അമ്മ (mother (informal, familiar)) · yua náh (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru ма́ма (mother (informal, familiar)) · alt мама (mother (informal, familiar)) · ro măicuță (mother (informal, familiar)) · th แม่ (mother (informal, familiar)) · pl mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · vi(mother (informal, familiar)) · cmn 媽 /妈 (mother (informal, familiar)) · uk не́ня (mother (informal, familiar)) · ko 엄마 (mother (informal, familiar)) · uk не́нька (mother (informal, familiar)) · os мамӕ (mother (informal, familiar)) · ajp ماما (mother (informal, familiar)) · ee dada (mother (informal, familiar)) · apc ماما (mother (informal, familiar)) · my မေမေ (mother (informal, familiar)) · id mami (mother (informal, familiar)) · ppl -nān (mother (informal, familiar)) · yue 媽咪 /妈咪 (mother (informal, familiar)) · fa-ira مادَر (mother (informal, familiar)) · sh ма̏ма (mother (informal, familiar)) · hi माँ (mother (informal, familiar)) · lt mamytė (mother (informal, familiar)) · os гыцци (mother (informal, familiar)) · twf káʼȕ (mother (informal, familiar)) · cmn 媽媽 /妈妈 (mother (informal, familiar)) · af mamma (mother (informal, familiar)) · yi מאַמע (mother (informal, familiar)) · koi мам (mother (informal, familiar)) · et memm (mother (informal, familiar)) · es mamá (mother (informal, familiar)) · ja(mother (informal, familiar)) · hu anyu (mother (informal, familiar)) · cmn(mother (informal, familiar)) · ar مَامَا (mother (informal, familiar)) · fr maman (mother (informal, familiar)) · sl mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · grc μαμμίᾱ (mother (informal, familiar)) · be мату́ля (mother (informal, familiar)) · hsb mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · fi äippä (mother (informal, familiar)) · ka დე (mother (informal, familiar)) · ja ママ (mother (informal, familiar)) · ka დედა (mother (informal, familiar)) · os нана (mother (informal, familiar)) · cy mam (mother (informal, familiar)) · el μαμά (mother (informal, familiar)) · et emme (mother (informal, familiar)) · hi अम्माँ (mother (informal, familiar)) · grc μάμμη (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru ма (mother (informal, familiar)) · uk ма́ма (mother (informal, familiar)) · sk mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · ka დედი (mother (informal, familiar)) · it mamma (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru ма́менька (mother (informal, familiar)) · sce ana (mother (informal, familiar)) · be ма́ма (mother (informal, familiar)) · yi מאַמעלע (mother (informal, familiar)) · de Mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · arz ماما (mother (informal, familiar)) · tzj teeʼ (mother (informal, familiar)) · fa-ira نَنِه (mother (informal, familiar)) · hu mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · hi अम्मी (mother (informal, familiar)) · hu anya (mother (informal, familiar)) · cs máma (mother (informal, familiar)) · sk mamička (mother (informal, familiar)) · es madre (mother (informal, familiar)) · ur اَمّی (mother (informal, familiar)) · kmr(mother (informal, familiar)) · vi mẹ (mother (informal, familiar)) · nan-hbl 阿母 (mother (informal, familiar)) · gl mamá (mother (informal, familiar)) · ar أُمّ (mother (informal, familiar)) · lt mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · la mamma (mother (informal, familiar)) · nan-hbl 阿娘 (mother (informal, familiar)) · hi माताजी (mother (informal, familiar)) · ur اَمّاں (mother (informal, familiar)) · fa-ira مامان (mother (informal, familiar)) · fi äiti (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru ма́мочка (mother (informal, familiar)) · ml ഉമ്മ (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru маму́ся (mother (informal, familiar)) · uk ма́тінка (mother (informal, familiar)) · id mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · aa yayya (mother (informal, familiar)) · ckt ыммэ (mother (informal, familiar)) · et ema (mother (informal, familiar)) · ga maime (mother (informal, familiar)) · fi mamma (mother (informal, familiar)) · eu amatxo (mother (informal, familiar)) · da mor (mother (informal, familiar)) · ajp إم (mother (informal, familiar)) · pt mamã (mother (informal, familiar)) · nan-hbl 老母 (mother (informal, familiar)) · gl nanai (mother (informal, familiar)) · ckt ыммэмы (mother (informal, familiar)) · vo motül (mother (informal, familiar)) · mr आई (mother (informal, familiar)) · dsb maminka (mother (informal, familiar)) · fo mamma (mother (informal, familiar)) · eo panjo (mother (informal, familiar)) · pl mamusia (mother (informal, familiar)) · ajp يامّا (mother (informal, familiar)) · de Mum (mother (informal, familiar)) · ar مَامَان (mother (informal, familiar)) · gl nai (mother (informal, familiar)) · ru мама́ша (mother (informal, familiar)) · de Mutti (mother (informal, familiar)) · cmn 媽咪 /妈咪 (mother (informal, familiar)) · mk мама (mother (informal, familiar)) · gd màmag (mother (informal, familiar)) · cs maminka (mother (informal, familiar)) · ja お母さん (mother (informal, familiar)) · io mama (mother (informal, familiar)) · ro mămică (mother (informal, familiar))

Source: en.wiktionary, “mum” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

mum en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /mʌm/
  • /mʊm/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

Abbreviation of chrysanthemum.

Meanings

  1. (US) A chrysanthemum.
    • I don't know whether that's true or whether New Yorkers are being enjoined from watering the mums in their window boxes or whatever, but I do know that there hasn't been one rain-delay in the whole tournament so far […]. 1996, David Foster Wallace, “Democracy and Commerce at the US Open”, in Both Flesh And Not, Penguin, published 2013, page 139:
  2. (US) A decoration traditionally made of chrysanthemums and ribbons, worn by girls at high school homecoming celebrations, marked with indicators such as the wearer's name, school, the year, and so on.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
mums Number=Plur lexicographic
'mum alternative lexicographic
Source: en.wiktionary, “mum” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

mum en · ADJ · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /mʌm/
  • /mʊm/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

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 dated German Mumme (“mask”).

Meanings

  1. (archaic, colloquial, not-comparable, of a person) Silent.
    • [Vladimir Putin] has serious climate problems. And he has been mum on his willingness to do anything. 2021 November 2, Jim Tankersley, Katie Rogers, Lisa Friedman, quoting Joe Biden, “With Methane and Forest Deals, Climate Summit Offers Hope After Gloomy Start”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
    • The citizens are mum, and speak not a word. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vii]:
  2. (colloquial, not-comparable) Secret.
    • “Come here, friend,” sternly from the doctor. “Now I give you the way inside if you’ll promise to keep it mum.” 1922, Robert Welles Ritchie, Dust of the Desert, page 149:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
mumm alternative, archaic lexicographic

Deriveds

mum's the word · mumble

mum en · INTJ · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /mʌm/
  • /mʊm/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

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 dated German Mumme (“mask”).

Meanings

  1. stop speaking!, stop talking!, hush!
    • Mum, then, and no more. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
    • Ahab has that that’s bloody on his mind. But, mum; he comes this way. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 31, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 143:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
mumm alternative, archaic lexicographic
Source: en.wiktionary, “mum” (intj), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

mum en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /mʌm/
  • /mʊm/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

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 dated German Mumme (“mask”).

Meanings

  1. (obsolete, uncountable) Silence.
    • Entrust it under solemn Vows / Of Mum and Silence,[…] 1677 (indicated as 1678), [Samuel Butler], “[The Third Part of Hudibras]. Canto II.”, in Hudibras. The Third and Last Part. […], London: […] Robert Horne, […], published 1679, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 277:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
mumm alternative, archaic lexicographic
Source: en.wiktionary, “mum” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

mum en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /mʌm/
  • /mʊm/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

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 dated German Mumme (“mask”).

Meanings

  1. To act in a pantomime or dumb show.
  2. (UK, obsolete, slang, transitive) To silence.
    • "Well, Sal, you mum your dubber pretty generally, but when you do slacken your glib you may as well do it civilly." 1857, Hidden Links; Or the Schoolfellows. A Tale, volume 2, page 233:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
mummed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
mummed Tense=Past lexicographic
mums Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
mumming Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
mumm alternative, archaic lexicographic

Deriveds

mummery · mummer

Source: en.wiktionary, “mum” (verb), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

mum en · NOUN · etymology 4

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /mʌm/
  • /mʊm/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

From German Mumme.

Meanings

  1. (uncountable) A type of strong beer, originally made in Brunswick, Germany.
    • The clamorous crowd is hushed with mugs of mum. 1728, [Alexander Pope], “(please specify the page)”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC:
Source: en.wiktionary, “mum” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

mum en · NOUN · etymology 5

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • (US) audio
  • /mʌm/
  • /mʊm/ (Northern-England)

Etymology

A variant of ma'am.

Meanings

  1. (alt-of, alternative, dated, informal) Alternative spelling of ma'am.
    alt of ma'am
    • "A telegruff message, mum, for Mr. William," said the maid, looking at her mistress with eyes opened wide, as she handed the important bit of paper to her master. 1865 May 15 – 1866 January 1, Anthony Trollope, “William Belton Does Not Go Out Hunting”, in The Belton Estate. […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published December 1865 (indicated as 1866), →OCLC, pages 220–221:
    • Then she took off the hank and looked me straight in the face, but very pleasant, and says: / “Come, now—what’s your real name? / “Wh-what, mum?” / “What’ your real name? Is it Bill, or Tom, or Bob?—or what is it?” 1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XI, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, page 93:
    • [H]e axed if wer stock o' coals was nearly done. I telled him it was, an' we was ill set to get more—but you know mum I didn't think o' him helping us—but howsever, he sent us a sack o' coals next day; […] 1847 December, Acton Bell [pseudonym; Anne Brontë], “The Cottagers”, in Agnes Grey. […], London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC, page 176:
    • “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 only dis-pense vith his—might I wenter to say the vurd?” / “What word Mr. Weller?” said the housekeeper, blushing slightly. / “Petticuts, mum,” returned that gentleman, laying his hand upon the garments of his grandson. “If my son Samivel, mum, vould only dis-pense vith these here, you’d see such a alteration in his appearance, as the imagination can’t depicter.” 1840 April – 1841 November, Charles Dickens, “Chapter the Eighth”, in The Old Curiosity Shop. A Tale. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1841, →OCLC, page 130:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
mums Number=Plur lexicographic