grandmother

[ gran-muhth-er, grand-, gram- ]

/ ˈgrænˌmʌð ər, ˈgrænd-, ˈgræm- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR grandmother ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the mother of one's father or mother.

a female ancestor.

Nearby words

grandly, grandma, grandma moses, grandmamma, grandmaster, grandmother, grandmother clock, grandmother's clock, grandmotherly, grandnephew, grandniece

Origin of grandmother

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at grand-, mother¹

Can be confused

grammar grandma grandmother

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for grandmother

In 2011, he was arrested while visiting his grandmother in Iran, charged with espionage, and sentenced to death.
An American Marine in Iran’s Prisons Goes on Hunger Strike|IranWire|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Through her haircare line, named for her grandmother, Jessie Branch, Titi Branch was revolutionary.
Goodbye To A Natural Hair Guru: Miss Jessie's Cofounder Titi Branch Dead At 45|Danielle Belton|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is this trinity of female mourning: for your grandmother, your mother, and your unborn daughter.
Meghan Daum On Tackling The Unspeakable Parts Of Life|David Yaffe|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The seven-year-old Detroit girl was sleeping on the couch as her grandmother sat next to her watching television.
Worse Than Eric Garner: Cops Who Got Away With Killing Autistic Men and Little Girls|Emily Shire|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Vreeland believes that in the end, his grandmother put her subtle seal of approval on his lifestyle.
From Fashion Player to Photographer Monk|Nina Strochlic|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was so exactly like the real thing, she whispered to grandmother wiping her eyes.
Letty and the Twins|Helen Sherman Griffith
Then Grandmother Wheeler went to her little storeroom and emerged bearing a box.
The Copy-Cat and Other Stories|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
Yes, your grandmother has said that she wished you were out, and so we'll go before she changes her mind.
Plays by August Strindberg, Third Series|August Strindberg
Look at the picture (Fig. 40) of a grandmother weaving on a cloth loom.
Clothing and Health|Helen Kinne
Grandmother had one gold dollar; this she gave me and the book was purchased.
Scenic Mount Lowe and Its Wonderful Railway|George Wharton James

British Dictionary definitions for grandmother

grandmother

/ (ˈɡrænˌmʌðə, ˈɡrænd-) /

noun

the mother of one's father or mother

(often plural) a female ancestor

(often capital) a familiar term of address for an old woman

teach one's grandmother to suck eggs See egg 1 (def. 8)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

grandmother

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of grandmother

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for grandmother

British Dictionary definitions for grandmother

grandmother

noun