Syncope applies to the base so that the first syllable, mum, contains all of the first morpheme and some of the second.

The meaning of MUM is silent. How to use mum in a sentence.

Definition of mum noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Jul 14, 2025 · This comprehensive glossary entry unravels the full meaning, definition, and etymology of "mum." Discover its various uses through examples, from informal address to …

There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the word mum, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Mum's the word is a popular English idiom. It is related to an expression used by William Shakespeare, in Henry VI, Part 2. [1] The word "mum" is an alteration of momme, which was …

Used as a command to stop speaking. Say nothing of the secret you know: Mum's the word on the surprise party. [Middle English mom, mum, perhaps imitative of closing one's lips.] 1. To …

Mum is an adjective that means keeping quiet. It can also be used by itself to mean Be quiet! This sense of mum is especially used in the expressions keep mum and mum’s the word. In the …

Silent; not speaking. Used as a command to stop speaking. To wear a mask or costume in fun; specif., to act as a mummer at Christmastime. To go merrymaking in a mask or disguise …

mum in British English (mʌm ) noun mainly British an informal word for mother 1