mum

UK: /ˈmʌm/ US: /mʌm/ ,(mum)

Inflections of 'mum' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

mums

v 3rd person singular

mumming

v pres p

mummed

v past

mummed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

mum¹ /mʌm/   adj. 

1. silent:
   to keep mum.

mum³ /mʌm/   n. 

1. Plant Biology chrysanthemum.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mum¹  (mum), adj. 

1. silent;
   not saying a word:
   to keep mum.

interj. 

2. say nothing! be silent!
3. Idioms mum's the word, do not reveal what you know (about something);
   keep silent:
   Mum's the word, or the surprise party won't be a surprise.

• 1350–1400; Middle English momme; imitative

mum²  (mum), v.i., mummed, mum•ming. 

1. to say "mum'';
   call for silence.
2. to act as a mummer.

Also, mumm. 

• 1350–1400; Middle English mommen, verb, verbal use of mum¹; compare Middle Dutch mommen to act the mummer's part

mum³  (mum), n. 

1. Plant Biology chrysanthemum.

• shortened form

mum⁴  (mum), n. [Chiefly Brit.]

1. British Terms mother.

• 1815–25; nursery word; see mom

mum⁵  (mum), n. 

1. Wine a strong beer or ale, first made in Brunswick, Germany.

• German Mumme, said to have been named after the brewer who made it
• 1630–40

mum⁶  (mum), n. [Chiefly Brit.]

1. British Terms madam.

• variant of ma'am

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mum / mʌm/ noun

1. 
   an informal word for mother1

Etymology: 19th Century: a child's word

mum / mʌm/ adjective

1. keeping information to oneself; silent

noun

1. mum's the word ⇒ silence or secrecy is to be observed

Etymology: 14th Century: suggestive of closed lips

mum, mumm / mʌm/ verb (mums, mumming, mummed)

1. (intransitive) to act in a mummer's play

Etymology: 16th Century: verbal use of mum²