2 N‑SING If you refer to the mother country of a particular state or country, you are referring to the very powerful country that used to control its affairs. □ Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, had no colonial conflict with the mother country.
mo th|er fig|ure (mother figures ) also mother-figure N‑COUNT If you regard someone as a mother figure , you think of them as having the role of a mother and being the person you can turn to for help, advice, or support.
mother|fucker /mʌ ðə r fʌkə r / (motherfuckers ) N‑COUNT If someone calls a person, usually a man, a motherfucker , they are insulting him in a very unpleasant way. [mainly AM , VERY RUDE , DISAPPROVAL ]
moth|er|hood /mʌ ðə r hʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Motherhood is the state of being a mother. □ …women who try to combine work and motherhood.
Mo th|er|ing Su n|day N‑UNCOUNT Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent, when children give cards and presents to their mothers as a sign of their love for them. [BRIT , OLD-FASHIONED ]
mo ther-in-law (mothers-in-law ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's mother-in-law is the mother of their husband or wife.
mother|land /mʌ ðə r lænd/ also Motherland N‑SING The motherland is the country in which you or your ancestors were born and to which you still feel emotionally linked, even if you live somewhere else. □ …love for the motherland.
moth|er|less /mʌ ðə r ləs/ ADJ You describe children as motherless if their mother has died or does not live with them. □ …Michael's seven motherless children.
moth|er|ly /mʌ ðə r li/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Motherly feelings or actions are like those of a kind mother. □ It was an incredible display of motherly love and forgiveness.
Mo th|er Na ture N‑UNCOUNT Mother Nature is sometimes used to refer to nature, especially when it is being considered as a force that affects human beings. □ …when Mother Nature created Iceland out of volcanic lava and glaciers.
Mo th|er of Go d N‑PROPER In Christianity, the Mother of God is another name for the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
mo ther-of-pea rl also mother of pearl N‑UNCOUNT Mother-of-pearl is the shiny layer on the inside of some shells. It is used to make buttons or to decorate things.
Mo th|er's Day N‑UNCOUNT Mother's Day is a special day on which children give cards and presents to their mothers as a sign of their love for them. In Britain, Mother's Day is the fourth Sunday in Lent. In the United States, it is the second Sunday in May.
Mo th|er Su|pe ri|or (Mother Superiors ) N‑COUNT A Mother Superior is a nun who is in charge of the other nuns in a convent.
mo ther-to-be (mothers-to-be ) N‑COUNT A mother-to-be is a woman who is pregnant, especially for the first time.
mo th|er tongue (mother tongues ) also mother-tongue N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your mother tongue is the language that you learn from your parents when you are a baby.
mo|tif /moʊtiː f/ (motifs ) N‑COUNT A motif is a design which is used as a decoration or as part of an artistic pattern. □ …a rose motif.
mo|tion ◆◇◇ /moʊ ʃ ə n/ (motions , motioning , motioned )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Motion is the activity or process of continually changing position or moving from one place to another. □ …the laws governing light, sound, and motion. □ One group of muscles sets the next group in motion. □ The wind from the car's motion whipped her hair around her head.
2 N‑COUNT A motion is an action, gesture, or movement. □ He made a neat chopping motion with his hand.
3 N‑COUNT A motion is a formal proposal or statement in a meeting, debate, or trial, which is discussed and then voted on or decided on. □ The conference is now debating the motion and will vote on it shortly. □ [+ against ] Opposition parties are likely to bring a no-confidence motion against the government.
4 VERB If you motion to someone, you move your hand or head as a way of telling them to do something or telling them where to go. □ [V + for ] She motioned for the locked front doors to be opened. □ [V n prep/adv] He stood aside and motioned Don to the door. □ [V n to-inf] I motioned him to join us. □ [V + to ] He motioned to her to go behind the screen.
5 → see also slow motion , time and motion
6 PHRASE If you say that someone is going through the motions , you think they are only saying or doing something because it is expected of them without being interested, enthusiastic, or sympathetic. □ 'You really don't care, do you?' she said quietly. 'You're just going through the motions.'
7 PHRASE If a process or event is in motion , it is happening. If it is set in motion , it is happening or beginning to happen. □ His job as England manager begins in earnest now his World Cup campaign is in motion. □ Her sharp, aggressive tone set in motion the events that led to her downfall.
8 PHRASE If someone sets the wheels in motion , they take the necessary action to make something start happening. □ I have set the wheels in motion to sell Endsleigh Court. SYNONYMS motion NOUN
1
movement: Movement is a big challenge for him since he broke his hip.
action: As always, Peter had a reason for his action.
mobility: Two cars gave them the freedom and mobility to go their separate ways.
2
gesture: Sarah made a menacing gesture with her fist.
sign: They gave Lavalle the thumbs-up sign.