ma
ma · noun
Definitions
noun
- 1.
**(informal)** One's mother.
- 2.
A respectful form of address to an older woman (in some regions).
Forms
plural: mas
Related words
Etymology
A shortening of "mama" or "mamma," from baby talk. The repeated syllable "ma" is one of the first sounds babies make and is associated with "mother" in many languages worldwide. Related to Latin mamma and Greek mamma.