MOTHER

Mother

A mother is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the egg which in union with a sperm grew into a child. The definition can also be extended to non-human animals and may then also include being the animal that donated a body cell which has resulted in a clone. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally acceptable definition for the term.

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mother

Noun

  1. A (human) female who (a) parents a child (b) gives birth to a baby (c) donates a fertilized egg or (d) donates a body cell which has resulted in a clone. Sometimes used in reference to a pregnant female, possibly as a shortened form of mother-to-be (c).
    (a) I am visiting my mother today.
    (b) My sister-in-law has just become a mother.
    (c) Nutrients and oxygen obtained by the mother are conveyed to the fetus.
  2. A female parent of an animal.
    The lioness was a mother of four cubs.
  3. A female ancestor.
  4. A source or origin, viewed affectionately.
    The Mediterranean was mother to many cultures and languages.
  5. A title of respect for one's mother-in-law.
    Mother Smith, meet my cousin, Doug Jones.
  6. Any elderly woman, especially within a particular community.
  7. Any person or entity which performs mothering.
  8. A film or membrane which is developed on the surface of fermented alcoholic liquids, such as vinegar, wine, etc., and acts as a means of conveying the oxygen of the air to the alcohol and other combustible principles of the liquid, thus leading to their oxidation.
  9. The principal piece of an astrolabe, into which the others are fixed.
  10. The female superior or head of a religious house; an abbess, etc.
  11. Hysterical passion; hysteria.

Noun (etymology 2)

  1. Something that is the greatest or most significant of its kind.
    "The great duel, the mother of all battles has begun." —

Noun (etymology 3)

  1. Motherfucker.
  2. A striking example.

Noun (etymology 4)

  1. A cat that catches moths.

Verb

  1. To treat as a mother would be expected to treat her child; to nurture.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: mother
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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