# mater

/ˈmætɝ/ (US) · /mˈeɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mater
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. mother

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Humorous · Archaic · Slang

an old-fashioned and slightly funny way to say 'mother'.

For teachers: a colloquial and now largely archaic term for one's mother, typically associated with upper-class British English.

- He wrote a long letter to his mater while he was away at boarding school.
- In the early twentieth-century novel, the protagonist frequently referred to his mater with a mixture of affection and formal distance.

Teaching tip: This sense is almost exclusively found in period literature or used ironically today; learners should avoid using it in modern conversation.

### 2. brain membrane

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

one of the three layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain.

For teachers: any of the three membranes (dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater) that envelop the brain and spinal cord.

- The doctor explained that the infection had reached the dura mater.
- The surgeon carefully retracted the pia mater to access the underlying neural tissue during the delicate procedure.

Usage: Usually appears as part of a compound term like 'dura mater' or 'pia mater'.

### 3. one who mates

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a person or animal that joins with another to have babies or to work together.

For teachers: an organism or agent that performs the act of mating.

- The researcher observed that the strongest mater in the group had the most offspring.
- In this specific species of bird, the primary mater often travels long distances to find a suitable nesting site.

## Examples

- I must write a letter to my dear mater this evening.
- He joked that his mater would never approve of him wearing such a casual outfit to dinner.
- The protagonist's frequent references to his mater and pater immediately established his posh upbringing and somewhat detached relationship with the modern world.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.