momma

Noun

mama (plural mamas)

1. (Canada, US, childish, often) Synonym of mother (“a female parent”).
   • I love the cookies which mama bakes me every week.

   Synonyms:

   mother

   1. (Canada, US, childish, figuratively, often) Synonym of mother (“an origin, a source”).
      • The exhibition of the New Society of Water-Colour Painters has grown to be quite as handsome and agreeable as that of its mamma, the old Society in Pall Mall East.1844 June, Michael Angelo Titmarsh [pseudonym; William Makepeace Thackeray], “[Critical Reviews of Books and Pictures.] May Gambols; or, Titmarsh in the Picture Galleries.”, in Miscellaneous Essays...
   2. (Canada, US, childish, obsolete, often) Used preceding a name as a title for a mother.
      • That they should spend their Christmas at Merle Park was an acknowledged thing;—to mamma Tringle an acknowledged benefit, because she liked to have her daughter with her; to papa Tringle an acknowledged evil, because he could not endure to be made to give more than he intended to give.1878 April 25 – September 24 (date written), Anthony Trollope, “Lady Albury’s Letter”, in Ayala’s Angel […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall […], published 1881, →OCLC, page 59
2. (LGBTQ slang) A lesbian partner.
3. (Caribbean, informal, US (originally African-American Vernacular)) Used as a (respectful) term of address for a woman, especially an older one.
   • About a.d. 1150 Mango Capac and Mama Oella, his sister-wife [Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo], appeared by the Lake Titicaca.1799, Robert Southey, “[Ideas and Studies for Literary Composition.] Mango Capac”, in John Wood Warter, editor, Southey’s Common-place Book. Fourth Series. Original Memoranda, etc. […], London...
4. (slang, chiefly US (originally African-American Vernacular)) A girlfriend.
   • [W]hat would I do supposing the Jane on whom I had always looked as a steady mamma had handed me the old skimmer and told me to take all the air I needed because she had gotten another sweetie?1927 April 9, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “The Story of William”, in Meet Mr. Mulliner, London: Herbert Jenkins […], published 27 September 1927, →OCLC, page 179

See all 17 meanings of mama