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

Mom is more common in American English, while mum is more common in British English. The charts below show the relative usage of mum vs. mom in both language communities.

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

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 especially during a …

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 botanical terms, for a …

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.

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 act or play …

Feb 9, 2026 · From Middle English mum or mom (“silent”), reminiscent of the sound made when gagged or with a hand over one's mouth. Perhaps related to dated German Mumme (“mask”).

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 U.K. and other …