Word
mothership
Phoneticsmoth·er·ship, stress on the first syllable
/ˈməðɝˌʃɪp/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a large ship or aircraft that carries and controls smaller ones. In business, it can also mean the main office or headquarters of a company.
n. a large vessel or spacecraft that serves as a base for smaller, shorter-range craft. Often used metaphorically to describe a central hub or the primary headquarters of an organization.
Examples
“The small drones returned to the mothership to recharge.”
“After years of working in regional branches, she was finally promoted to a position at the corporate mothership in London.”
“Science fiction often depicts the mothership as a massive, central command center capable of deploying hundreds of smaller fighters during an interstellar engagement.”
Examples
simple
“The small drones returned to the mothership to recharge.”
contextual
“After years of working in regional branches, she was finally promoted to a position at the corporate mothership in London.”
complex
“Science fiction often depicts the mothership as a massive, central command center capable of deploying hundreds of smaller fighters during an interstellar engagement.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mothership” in context.
Verb
01. contact mothership
“The regional office had to contact the mothership for approval on the new budget.”
verb + noun
02. launch from
“Several smaller scout vessels were launched from the mothership.”
verb + prep
03. mothership deploys
“The mothership deploys its fleet of satellites every six months.”
noun + verb
04. mothership dictates
“The mothership dictates the branding strategy for all international subsidiaries.”
noun + verb
05. rejoin mothership
“The drones are programmed to rejoin the mothership once their mission is complete.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. alien mothership
“The radar detected a massive alien mothership hovering just outside the atmosphere.”
adj + noun
07. corporate mothership
“Local branches must report all financial discrepancies back to the corporate mothership.”
adj + noun
08. orbital mothership
“The small landing craft detached from the orbital mothership to begin its descent.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. return to mothership
“The pilot requested permission for an immediate return to the mothership.”
noun + prep + noun
10. detach from the mothership
“The exploration pod will detach from the mothership once it reaches the planet's orbit.”
11. dock with the mothership
“The shuttle successfully managed to dock with the mothership after the spacewalk.”
12. report back to the mothership
“Every Friday, the sales managers must report back to the mothership in London.”
Usage
Commonly used in science fiction contexts or as a corporate metaphor for a central headquarters.
Real-World Examples
“A concept behind China’s new gigantic drone mothership called Jiu Tian (“Ninth Heaven”), could be capable of releasing as many as 100 small kamikaze drones.” Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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