mater

American  

[mey-ter] / ˈmeɪ tər /

noun

plural

maters, matres

1. British Informal. mother.

2. the backing holding the movable parts of an astrolabe.

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mater British  

/ ˈmeɪtə /

noun

1. slang:public_school a word for mother 1

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Etymology

Origin of mater

First recorded in 1585–95, mater is from the Latin word māter

Example Sentences

Now check how much the average professor makes at your alma mater.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

Prince William’s alma mater, Scotland’s elite University of St. Andrew’s, receives so many Americans it is now sometimes referred to as “mini-Nantucket.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Certainly West Point, Lincoln’s alma mater, wasn’t training such people.

From Slate • Feb. 9, 2026

The two women have more in common than just their alma mater, though.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

“But not just any child. I am...uh, the mater in my sisterhood. The magna mater; in fact. There are no mysteries to me. Mithras cannot hide anything from my sight.”

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan