# mom

Pronunciation: say "MOM" US /mɑm/, UK /mɒm/

## Noun

1. A person's mother, as an informal and affectionate word in everyday North American speech. *(US, Canada)*
   - Simple: A warm, everyday word children and grown-ups use for their mother.
   - _She calls her mom every Sunday evening to catch up._
   - _Both of their moms showed up early to help decorate the hall._
2. An adult woman who owns a pet, especially when spoken of affectionately as the animal's parent. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A woman who owns a pet and looks after it like her own child.
   - _Every rescue dog at the shelter deserves a patient mom like her._
   - _As a proud cat mom, she keeps photos of her two tabbies on her desk at work._
4. Used by a husband as an affectionate term of address or reference for his wife, especially within a family that has children. *(informal, US, Canada)*
   - Simple: A friendly name a husband uses for his wife, often in front of the children.
   - _"Ask Mom if she wants to come along," he said, nodding toward his wife._
   - _Since their first baby arrived, he has called his wife mom almost as often as he uses her name._

## Verb

3. To look after someone in a caring, protective manner, the way a mother would. *(colloquial, Canada, US)*
   - Simple: To look after someone in a caring or protective way, as a mother would.
   - _He has a habit of momming his roommates whenever one of them gets sick._
   - _The team captain likes to mom the new recruits through their first season._

## Origin

A shortened form of "momma."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/mom (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).