mum
noun · adjective · verb
Simple meaning
A decoration made originally of a real chrysanthemum but now usually an artificial flower combined with ribbons and marked with such indicators as the wearer's name.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
muhmIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈmʌm
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
usoriginally texas
A decoration made originally of a real chrysanthemum but now usually an artificial (silk) flower combined with ribbons and marked with such indicators as the wearer's name, school name, the year, and so on; traditionally worn by girls at high school homecoming celebrations.
informal
One's mother.
A type of strong beer, originally made in Brunswick, Germany.
CommonwealthIrelandinformal
Informal terms for a mother
adjective
colloquial
Secret.
verb
To act in a pantomime or dumb show.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.