📖 M — The English dictionary · page 51

mum — Everyday, meaning 1: Mum is the British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand word for mother.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: «Keep mum» means keep quiet and say nothing.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (casual) Children shout «Mum!» or «Mu-um!» to call or complain; «mummy» is for small children, «mam» in Ireland, Wales and northern England.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (UK slang) «Your mum» is a playground put-down or joke; it is rude and not about anybody's real mother.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (formal) «Mother», «parent» or «guardian» is used in official writing: «a parent or guardian must sign».↗ Everyday, meaning 6: A mum is also a short name for a chrysanthemum flower (US).↗ Example: Mum bought 6 apples.↗ · Her mum gave her 2 pounds.↗ · Mum baked 3 trays of 12 buns.↗ · Tom helps his mum carry 4 bags.↗ · Mum, can I go to Lily's house?↗ · My mum and dad came to the school play.↗ · Keep mum about the surprise party!↗ · Ask your mum if you can stay for tea.↗ · muuum where's my other shoe (casual)↗ · me mum'll kill me if I'm late again, it's 5 to 6 (casual, UK)↗ · Mum's the word, nobody tell him about the cake.↗ · The pupil's mother purchased 6 apples and subsequently 4 more; determine the aggregate quantity purchased.↗ (formal exam)↗ · “Good morning, mum,” says Jack, as bold as brass, “could you be so good as to give me something to eat?”↗

mumble — Everyday, meaning 1: To speak quietly and not clearly, so that people find it hard to understand you.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (noun) Quiet, unclear speech.↗ Example: Don't mumble; speak clearly so we can hear you.↗ · He mumbled «sorry» and looked at the floor.↗ · She mumbled something in her sleep.↗ · I couldn't understand his mumble.↗ · The shy boy mumbled his name.↗ · Stop mumbling and say it again loudly.↗ · Grandpa mumbled into his beard.↗ · “What are you mumbling to yourself?” asked the Fairy.↗

mummery — Everyday, meaning 1: Mummery is a silly, pointless ritual or show, with too much pretence and fuss.↗ Example: "What is all this mummery?" asked the Councillor.↗ · The old ritual was just mummery to him.↗ · Stop the mummery and tell me the truth.↗

mummification — Everyday, meaning 1: The process of preserving a dead body so that it does not rot, as the ancient Egyptians did.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The natural drying and preserving of a body in very dry, cold or boggy places.↗ Example: Mummification in ancient Egypt could take about seventy days.↗ · The Egyptians used natron salt in mummification.↗ · We learned about mummification in our history topic.↗ · Even cats and crocodiles were preserved by mummification.↗ · Ötzi the Iceman shows natural mummification in ice.↗ · Bog bodies found in Ireland and Denmark were preserved by natural mummification.↗ · Ancient Egyptians believed mummification helped the dead in the afterlife.↗

mummy — Everyday, meaning 1: (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, informal) A child's word for mother; in the USA it is «mommy».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A dead body kept from rotting long ago, often wrapped in cloth, as in ancient Egypt.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (stories) A scary monster in films, a wrapped body that walks.↗ Example: Mummy, can I have a biscuit?↗ · My baby sister cries for her mummy.↗ · We saw an Egyptian mummy at the museum.↗ · The mummy was wrapped in long strips of linen.↗ · Scientists used X-rays to look inside the mummy.↗ · He dressed up as a mummy with toilet paper for Halloween.↗ · Mummies were buried with food and treasures.↗ · “Not quite empty, mummy,” Slightly said, after looking into an imaginary mug.↗

mumps — Everyday, meaning 1: Mumps is an infectious illness caused by a virus that makes the glands under the ears swell, so the cheeks and jaw puff up and hurt.↗ Example: My dad had mumps when he was a boy.↗ · Mumps makes your cheeks swell like a hamster's.↗ · The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella.↗ · She caught mumps and missed two weeks of school.↗ · Mumps spreads through coughs and sneezes.↗ · Mumps is rare now because of vaccines.↗

munch — Everyday, meaning 1: To munch is to chew food steadily and noisily, often with enjoyment: munch an apple, munch on crisps.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (slang) «The munchies» means feeling very hungry for snacks: «I've got the munchies.».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) A munch is a snack or a meal: «Let's grab some munch.».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (a name) Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter, famous for the painting «The Scream».↗ Example: The caterpillar munched through five oranges.↗ · We munched popcorn during the film.↗ · The horse munched happily on the hay.↗ · (informal) She munched away on a carrot while she read.↗ · (slang) I always get the munchies after swimming.↗ · The rabbit munched the lettuce in seconds.↗ · Stop munching so loudly!↗ · In art we painted our own version of Munch's «The Scream».↗ · The youth departed, weeping, and met the little hare, who was munching wild thyme.↗

municipal — Everyday, meaning 1: Belonging to or run by a town or city council (a municipal swimming pool, municipal park).↗ Example: We swim at the municipal pool on Saturdays.↗ · The municipal library is free for everyone.↗ · The municipal council fixes the streets.↗ · The municipal park has a new playground.↗ · Municipal workers collect the rubbish every week.↗ · The town holds municipal elections to choose the council.↗

municipality — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) A municipality is a town or city (or district) that has its own local government.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The local government of a town or city: the council.↗ Example: The municipality repaired the playground.↗ · Each municipality collects its own rubbish.↗ · Our town became a municipality long ago.↗ · The municipality decided to plant more trees.↗ · There are many small municipalities in the region.↗ · The library is run by the municipality.↗

munition — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A place of defence, or military supplies; here a stronghold.↗ Example: He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; his bread shall be given, his waters shall be sure.↗ (Prophets ISA.33.16, JPS 1917)↗

muntjac — Everyday, meaning 1: A small deer from Asia, also called a barking deer because it makes a loud bark; it has now spread wild in parts of England.↗ Example: A muntjac ran across the road in front of our car.↗ · Muntjac are small deer about the size of a dog.↗ · The muntjac barked in the woods at night.↗ · Muntjac first came to England from China.↗ · Muntjac eat bluebells and young trees.↗ · Male muntjac have short antlers and little tusks.↗

mural — Everyday, meaning 1: A mural is a large picture painted directly onto a wall or ceiling.↗ Example: Our class painted a mural of the ocean in the hall.↗ · The mural on the bridge shows the town's history.↗ · Artists painted a huge mural of footballers on the side of the building.↗ · The church had old murals of Bible stories.↗ · We planned the mural on paper first.↗ · The mural covered the whole wall.↗

murder — Everyday, meaning 1: The crime of killing a person on purpose.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Verb: to kill a person on purpose, against the law.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) Something very hard or unpleasant.↗ e.g. The traffic was murder today.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (informal) To do something very badly.↗ e.g. She murdered that song.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (informal, «could murder») To want something very much.↗ e.g. I could murder a cup of tea.↗ Example: The detective solved the murder in the last chapter.↗ · Murder is one of the worst crimes.↗ · Climbing that hill on a bike is murder!↗ · I could murder a sandwich right now.↗ · He murdered the high notes in the song.↗ · My little sister gets away with murder.↗ · A group of crows is called a murder.↗ · He was accused of nothing less than murder.↗ · They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.↗ (Writings PSA.94.6, JPS 1917)↗ · Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and offer unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye have not known, (Prophets JER.7.9, JPS 1917)↗ · And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so doth the company of priests; they murder in the way toward Shechem; yea, they commit enormity.↗ (Prophets HOS.6.9, JPS 1917)↗

murdered — Everyday, meaning 1: Murdered means killed someone on purpose; it is a very serious crime.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal) Murdered can mean did something very badly, as in «she murdered that song».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (slang) «I could murder a cup of tea» means I want one very much; «murdered» in sport slang can mean beaten very badly.↗ Example: In the story, the old king was murdered by his brother.↗ · The detective found out who murdered the butler.↗ · The murdered man's dog led police to the house.↗ · Dad murdered that song at karaoke!↗ (informal)↗ · We got murdered 8–0 on Saturday.↗ (slang)↗ · Macbeth murdered King Duncan in Shakespeare's play.↗ · I could murder a sandwich.↗ (informal)↗ · Was not the knight Sir Bugge murdered by wicked people?↗ · And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said: 'I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.↗ (Prophets JDG.20.4, JPS 1917)↗

murderer — Everyday, meaning 1: A person who kills another person on purpose, against the law.↗ Example: The detective finally worked out who the murderer was.↗ · The murderer was sent to prison for life.↗ · In the mystery book, the murderer was the gardener.↗ · Police are still searching for the murderer.↗ · Macbeth becomes a murderer because he wants to be king.↗ · Calling someone a murderer without proof is very serious.↗ · Killing in an accident does not make you a murderer.↗ · Who is there to tell that I am the murderer?↗ · The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death.↗ (Torah NUM.35.19, JPS 1917)↗ · Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.↗ (Torah NUM.35.31, JPS 1917)↗ · But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.↗ (Torah NUM.35.16, JPS 1917)↗ · She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.↗ (Prophets ISA.1.21, JPS 1917)↗ · And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said: 'Is it peace, thou Zimri, thy master's murderer?'↗ (Prophets 2KI.9.31, JPS 1917)↗ · The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.↗ (Writings JOB.24.14, JPS 1917)↗

murderess — Everyday, meaning 1: A murderess is a woman who has killed another person on purpose.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old use) In old stories, the word means a female murderer.↗ Example: He searched everywhere for the murderess.↗ · Nobody could find the murderess.↗ · The King was told the Queen was a murderess.↗

murderous — Everyday, meaning 1: Murderous means wanting to kill, or meant to kill: a murderous look.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Murderous can mean very dangerous or cruel, as in «murderous attacks».↗ Example: He seized the old man because of his murderous plans.↗ · The dogs protected us from the murderous attacks.↗ · A murderous robber hid in the forest.↗

murky — Everyday, meaning 1: Dark and dirty so you cannot see through it, about water: murky water.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Dark, gloomy or foggy, about air or light.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Not clear and hard to understand: the rules are murky.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Dishonest or secret in a suspicious way: a murky past.↗ Example: Don't swim in murky water; you can't see what's under it.↗ · The pond was murky and green.↗ · A murky fog hung over the town.↗ · Something moved in the murky depths of the lake.↗ · The rules about phones in school are a bit murky.↗ · The villain had a murky past.↗ · It was a murky, grey afternoon.↗

murmur — Everyday, meaning 1: A soft, low sound of voices, or of water, wind or bees, that goes on and on.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To say something very quietly.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A quiet complaint: «They paid without a murmur.».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (medicine) A heart murmur is an extra sound a doctor hears in the heartbeat; many are harmless.↗ Example: A murmur of excitement ran through the audience.↗ · «Goodnight,» she murmured sleepily.↗ · We heard the murmur of the stream.↗ · He did his chores without a murmur.↗ · The doctor heard a small heart murmur, but said it was nothing to worry about.↗ · The murmur of bees filled the garden.↗ · “Tell on, my love,” Finnian murmured↗ · And the people murmured against Moses, saying: 'What shall we drink?'↗ (Torah EXO.15.24, JPS 1917)↗ · And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; (Torah EXO.16.2, JPS 1917)↗ · Therefore thou and all thy company that are gathered together against the LORD — ; and as to Aaron, what is he that ye murmur against him?'↗ (Torah NUM.16.11, JPS 1917)↗ · And all the congregation murmured against the princes.↗ (Prophets JOS.9.18, JPS 1917)↗ · And they murmured in their tents, they hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.↗ (Writings PSA.106.25, JPS 1917)↗ · They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall learn instruction.↗ (Prophets ISA.29.24, JPS 1917)↗

murmuration — Everyday, meaning 1: A huge flock of starlings flying together and swirling in changing shapes in the sky, usually at dusk.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (literary) A soft, low murmuring sound.↗ Example: We watched a murmuration of starlings over the pier.↗ · The murmuration swirled like a black cloud.↗ · Thousands of starlings make a murmuration before they roost.↗ · Each bird watches its neighbours in a murmuration.↗ · A falcon dived into the murmuration but missed.↗