MOTHER

(PARENT) [noun] [C] - a female parentMy mother was 21 when she had (= gave birth to) me.All the mothers and fathers had been invited to the end-of-term concert.Hello, can I speak to your mother, please?(formal or dated) May I borrow your car, Mother? [as form of address] The little kittens and their mother were all curled up asleep in the same basket.While they were at sea they got caught in the mother of all storms (= an extremely severe storm).Didn't you learn to cook at your mother's knee (= when you were very young)?Your mother country (also fatherland) is the country where you were born or which you feel is your original home.Even though she has not lived in Spain for 50 years, she still calls it her mother country.A mother figure is a woman who you feel you can ask for help, support or advice.She never saw much of her own mother as a child, and in later life Susan was very much a mother figure to her.Mother Nature is another word for nature, used esp. humorously and when considering it as a force that controls the weather and all living things.It is better to try to work with, rather than against, Mother Nature.Mother-of-pearl is a smooth hard substance forming a layer inside the shells of some sea animals. It is white but also seems to shine with many different colours. It is used to make buttons and for decoration.Mother's Day (also UK formal Mothering Sunday) is a day each year when people give a present to their mother or do something special for her as a way of expressing their love and gratitude.Did you remember to send Mum a Mother's Day card?See study section: Public holidays and special days in the UK and the USA mother-to-be is a woman who is pregnant.Stylish and practical clothes for the mother-to-be/for mothers-to-be can be hard to find.A person's mother tongue is the first language that they learned when they were a baby, rather than a language learned at school or as an adult.All children are now allowed to take exams in their mother tongue.