Mum Meaning
/mʌm/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounMother.
nounA chrysanthemum.
Sentence Examples
Mum, why doesn't Dad clean his own study?
Keep mum about this plan.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The child stayed ____ about the missing cookies, even refusing to speak.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please keep ____ about the surprise birthday party for Sarah we really want it to be a complete and very exciting shock for her.
Word Origin & History
Alternative form of mam, or an abbreviation of mummy. Compare mom, mama.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
"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:
"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]:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The child stayed ____ about the missing cookies, even refusing to speak.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please keep ____ about the surprise birthday party for Sarah we really want it to be a complete and very exciting shock for her.