mum
/mʌm/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈʌm] /mʌm/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈʌm] /ˈməm/ (ame, mw)
mum — noun
- mumsingular
- mumsplural
1. someone's mother; also used when speaking to your own mother.
someone's mother; also used when speaking to your own mother.
Noa asked her mum to wait outside the school gate.
ask mum to do something
Mum packed two extra sandwiches for Arjun's train trip.
Mum + everyday family action
When Maeve was ill, her mum stayed home with her.
Christopher called, "Mum, can you help me with this form?"
Imani became a mum last spring and still feels surprised.
文法句型
ask Mum if...
Mum said ...
用法筆記
Common in British English and many Commonwealth varieties. In direct address it is often capitalized as Mum; American English usually prefers mom.
mum — adjective
- mumpositive
- mummercomparative
- mummestsuperlative
1. choosing not to tell people something or not answering questions about it.
choosing not to tell people something or not answering questions about it.
Aylin stayed mum about the surprise party until Friday night.
stay mum about [secret]
The coach kept mum on the new lineup after practice.
keep mum on [topic]
Walid went mum when reporters asked about the contract.
Even Mayumi's brother stayed mum about where they were moving.
The company remained mum after customers shared the photos online.
- silent
broader and not always about hiding information
- tight-lipped
stronger, often suggesting deliberate secrecy
- secretive
describes a general habit, not one withheld topic
文法句型
keep mum about [something]
stay mum on [issue]
用法筆記
Usually follows verbs such as keep, stay, remain, or go. It is mainly used for keeping information back, not for describing a person's quiet personality in general.
常見錯誤
mum — verb
- mumpresent simple I / you / we / they
- mums3rd person singular
- mumming-ing form
- mummedpast simple
1. to act in a performance without speaking, using movement and facial expression i
to act in a performance without speaking, using movement and facial expression instead of words.
Xiu had to mum through the kitchen scene after losing her voice.
mum through a scene without speech
During rehearsal, Nikos learned to mum with slow, comic gestures.
mum with gestures
At the fair, masked players mummed outside the old inn.
The children laughed as Christopher mummed behind the painted window.
- speak
use spoken lines instead of silent action
文法句型
mum through a scene
mum on stage
用法筆記
A historical and literary verb. It usually appears in writing about traditional stage entertainment rather than in ordinary modern conversation.
2. to move around in costume during a festival, singing, joking, or making cheerful
to move around in costume during a festival, singing, joking, or making cheerful noise.
Every January, villagers mum through the streets in bright masks.
mum through the streets at a festival
After sunset, the group mummed from farm to farm for coins.
mummed from place to place
Children watched from the gate as the cousins mummed at midwinter.
On the last night of the fair, Walid and his friends mummed until dawn.
- masquerade
broader and not limited to festival rounds
- revel
emphasizes noisy celebration more than disguise
文法句型
mum through the streets
mum at midwinter
用法筆記
This sense belongs to older local customs and seasonal festivals. It suggests people moving from place to place in disguise, not a modern costume party.