mother
- Top 1000
Sense 1
- noun
- A1
A woman who has a child of her own, or who cares for a child as its parent.
The baby stopped crying as soon as his mother spoke.
My mother never leaves the house without checking the stove.
Her mother warned her about the ice on the pavement.
New mothers meet every Tuesday in the community centre.
Common collocations: single mother · working mother · expectant mother · mother of two · mother tongue
Part of: Family, Relationships, Life events
Sense 2 · less common
- verb
- C1
To look after someone with a lot of care and attention, often more than that person wants.
Stop mothering me, I can carry the suitcase myself.
She mothers every new colleague during their first difficult weeks.
He hates being mothered whenever he catches a mild cold.
Common collocations: stop mothering me · mother someone constantly · be mothered
Part of: Family, Relationships, Personality