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# mum

«mum» in Mova's school dictionary: **the British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand word for…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (mum, mums); adjective (mum — silent, informal); verb (mum — act in a mime, old)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Mum is the British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand word for mother. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#m1)

2) «Keep mum» means keep quiet and say nothing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#m2)

3) (casual) Children shout «Mum!» or «Mu-um!» to call or complain; «mummy» is for small children, «mam» in Ireland, Wales and northern England. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#m3)

4) (UK slang) «Your mum» is a playground put-down or joke; it is rude and not about anybody's real mother. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#m4)

5) (formal) «Mother», «parent» or «guardian» is used in official writing: «a parent or guardian must sign». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#m5)

6) A mum is also a short name for a chrysanthemum flower (US). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#m6)

### sense in the lessons

a person in the story who buys, gives, bakes or shares things; in everyday life children call their mother Mum (Mom in the USA and Canada, Mam in Ireland); in casual talk «me mum», «my mum'll kill me»; in the exam voice «the mother» or «a parent»; phrases «Mum and Dad», «keep mum», «Mother's Day» (Mum's day), «mum's the word», «stay-at-home mum»

### examples

- Mum bought 6 apples. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x1)
- Her mum gave her 2 pounds. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x2)
- Mum baked 3 trays of 12 buns. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x3)
- Tom helps his mum carry 4 bags. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x4)
- Mum, can I go to Lily's house? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x5)
- My mum and dad came to the school play. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x6)
- Keep mum about the surprise party! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x7)
- Ask your mum if you can stay for tea. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x8)
- muuum where's my other shoe (casual) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x9)
- me mum'll kill me if I'm late again, it's 5 to 6 (casual, UK) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x10)
- Mum's the word, nobody tell him about the cake. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x11)
- The pupil's mother purchased 6 apples and subsequently 4 more; determine the aggregate quantity purchased. (formal exam) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x12)
- “Good morning, mum,” says Jack, as bold as brass, “could you be so good as to give me something to eat?” [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/#x13)

### note

A person who acts, not a number. Same as mother or mom (US, Canada) or mam (Ireland). No operation clue by itself. Write «Mum» with a capital when it is used as a name: «Thanks, Mum.» but «my mum». «Keep mum» and «mum's the word» mean keep a secret. «Me mum» (casual UK, Ireland, Australia) = my mum. «Your mum» jokes are insults, never facts. Trap: when counting people at a table, Mum counts as one person too.

### In the corpora

- [Example: in a café in Toronto, Mum taps her phone on the reader and the coffee is paid in a second.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/7-cards-banks-and-apps/6/)
- [A new partner does not replace your mum or dad.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/16-new-partners-and-step-families/4/)
- [In Melbourne, Mum smiles at Dad over dinner and says, "We've got some news.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/18-were-having-a-baby/3/)
- [Midwives and doctors check on mum and baby all the way through.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/18-were-having-a-baby/5/)
- ["We're expecting" means a baby is growing inside Mum and will be born in a few months.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/18-were-having-a-baby/7/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «mum» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mum/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.