Definition of mum noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
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.
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.
Historical painting of chrysanthemums from the New International Encyclopedia, 1902 Pollen The genus Chrysanthemum consists of perennial herbaceous flowering plants, sometimes subs
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 es
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.
Mar 8, 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 (“m