/ mæm; NAmE / noun [ sing. ]
1.
( NAmE ) used as a polite way of addressing a woman :
'Can I help you, ma'am?'
—compare sir
2.
/ mɑːm/ ( BrE ) used when addressing the Queen or senior women officers in the police or army = madam
/ mæm; NAmE / noun [ sing. ]
1.
( NAmE ) used as a polite way of addressing a woman :
'Can I help you, ma'am?'
—compare sir
2.
/ mɑːm/ ( BrE ) used when addressing the Queen or senior women officers in the police or army = madam
Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне. 2005