MAMA

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A name under which Ninkhursag was worshipped

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

Semitic deity (a deity worshipped by the ancient Semites)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Informal terms for a mother

Synonyms:

ma; mama; mamma; mammy; mom; momma; mommy; mum; mummy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("mama" is a kind of...):

female parent; mother (a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother))

Credits

Context examples:

Now Florence's mama hadn't a particle of taste, and Amy suffered deeply at having to wear a red instead of a blue bonnet, unbecoming gowns, and fussy aprons that did not fit.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“I was upstairs, mama, moving my things,” said Susan, in a fearless, self-defending tone, which startled Fanny.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

No, that will do: but after your mama went to the Holy Virgin, as you say, with whom did you live then?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mama, she said crying, I am extremely young—which was perfectly true—and I hardly know if I have a heart at all.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Oh! mama, how spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to us last night!

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“I had only my own family to study from. There is my father—another of my father—but the idea of sitting for his picture made him so nervous, that I could only take him by stealth; neither of them very like therefore. Mrs. Weston again, and again, and again, you see. Dear Mrs. Weston! always my kindest friend on every occasion. She would sit whenever I asked her. There is my sister; and really quite her own little elegant figure!—and the face not unlike. I should have made a good likeness of her, if she would have sat longer, but she was in such a hurry to have me draw her four children that she would not be quiet. Then, here come all my attempts at three of those four children;—there they are, Henry and John and Bella, from one end of the sheet to the other, and any one of them might do for any one of the rest. She was so eager to have them drawn that I could not refuse; but there is no making children of three or four years old stand still you know; nor can it be very easy to take any likeness of them, beyond the air and complexion, unless they are coarser featured than any of mama's children ever were. Here is my sketch of the fourth, who was a baby. I took him as he was sleeping on the sofa, and it is as strong a likeness of his cockade as you would wish to see. He had nestled down his head most conveniently. That's very like. I am rather proud of little George. The corner of the sofa is very good. Then here is my last,”—unclosing a pretty sketch of a gentleman in small size, whole-length—“my last and my best—my brother, Mr. John Knightley.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Jo knew that 'young Laurence' was regarded as a most eligible parti by worldly mamas, was much smiled upon by their daughters, and flattered enough by ladies of all ages to make a coxcomb of him, so she watched him rather jealously, fearing he would be spoiled, and rejoiced more than she confessed to find that he still believed in modest girls.