mum

¹ American  

[muhm] / mʌm /

adjective

1. silent; not saying a word.

   to keep mum.

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interjection

1. (used to demand immediate silence.)

idioms

1. mum's the word, do not reveal what you know (about something); keep silent.

   Mum's the word, or the surprise party won't be a surprise.

mum ² American  

[muhm] / mʌm /

Or mumm

verb (used without object)

mummed, mumming

1. to say “mum”; call for silence.

2. to act as a mummer.

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mum ³ American  

[muhm] / mʌm /

noun

1. chrysanthemum.

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mum ⁴ American  

[muhm] / mʌm /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. mom.

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mum ⁵ American  

[muhm] / mʌm /

noun

1. a strong beer or ale, first made in Brunswick, Germany.

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mum ⁶ American  

[muhm] / mʌm /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. madam.

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mum ¹ British  

/ mʌm /

adjective

1. keeping information to oneself; silent

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noun

1. silence or secrecy is to be observed

mum ² British  

/ mʌm /

noun

1. an informal word for mother 1

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mum ³ British  

/ mʌm /

verb

1. (intr) to act in a mummer's play

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mum ⁴ British  

/ mʌm /

noun

1. obsolete a type of beer made from cereals, beans, etc

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Usage

What does mum mean? Mum is an adjective that means keeping quiet. It can also be used by itself to mean Be quiet!This sense of mum is especially used in the expressions keep mum and mum’s the word. In the U.K. and other places, mum is used as a word for mom or madam. It’s also commonly used as a short way of saying chrysanthemum, a type of flower.Example: Mum’s keeping mum—I can’t get a word out of her!

Etymology

Origin of mum¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English momme; imitative

Origin of mum²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mommen, verb use of mum ¹; compare Middle Dutch mommen ”to act the mummer's part”

Origin of mum³

First recorded in 1890–95; shortened form

Origin of mum⁴

First recorded in 1815–25; nursery word; mom

Origin of mum⁵

First recorded in 1630–40; from German Mumme, said to have been named after Christian Mumme, the brewer who made it

Origin of mum⁶

Variant of ma'am

Example Sentences

The staff were "sitting around in the lounge area" watching the television, Molly's mum Kay Kirk said, and there was only one nurse on duty when there should have been two,

From BBC

Mrs Hatton said her son had told her: "Don't worry mum, I'll be sorted" and said he gave her a hug that "almost broke my ribs".

From BBC

His mum, Silviya, said they had been made aware before Casey was born that he would have major issues with his food pipe and need extensive surgeries.

From BBC

He was not alone in being unable to deal with what can be an unbearable situation, and his mum was so open and honest when she was talking about his journey on the programme.

From BBC

At 16, I did get offered a university scholarship in the US and also had the chance to go and play in Ecuador, but my mum said no, because we were going back to London.

From BBC

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