noun
mum
muhm
noun
1
Mother — the common British and Irish term.
"My mum picks me up from school on Fridays."
"Say hi to your mum for me."
adj
1
Saying nothing; silent, especially about a secret.
"Keep mum about the surprise party."
"She stayed mum on the details of the deal."
How to Use Mum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe British word for mother, or an adjective meaning silent/keeping quiet.
UK vs US
"Mum" is British/Irish/Australian usage; American English typically uses "mom."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
keep mum
stay mum
mum's the word
Word Forms
mummed past tense, mums plural, mums plural, mums singular
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My _____ picks me up from school on Fridays.
Etymology
Probably an abbreviation of "mummy," related to "mama" and "mom."