mummy
- 01 A1 Beginner
a name that children use for their mother.
a familiar and informal term for one's mother, primarily used by children or in family contexts.
Simple“The little girl ran to her mummy and gave her a big hug.”
In context“In many British households, children continue to address their mother as 'mummy' well into their primary school years before switching to 'mum'.”
UsageCapitalised when used as a proper name for one's own mother.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a dead body that has been preserved, often wrapped in cloth, like those from ancient Egypt.
a human or animal corpse preserved by either intentional embalming or natural conditions, typically associated with ancient Egyptian burial rites.
Simple“The museum has a famous Egyptian mummy that is over three thousand years old.”
In context“Archaeologists discovered the mummy in a hidden chamber, noting that the linen bandages and resin had kept the remains remarkably intact.”
UsageOften used in the context of archaeology or horror fiction.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a monster in movies that looks like a preserved body wrapped in bandages.
a reanimated corpse wrapped in bandages, appearing as a stock character in Gothic horror and modern cinema.
Simple“He dressed up as a mummy for the party by wrapping himself in toilet paper.”
In context“The classic horror film features a mummy that rises from its sarcophagus to haunt the explorers who disturbed its tomb.”
From Middle English mummie, from Anglo-Norman mumie, from Middle French momie, from Medieval Latin mumia, from Arabic مُومِيَاء (mūmiyāʔ), from Persian مومیا (mumyâ), from موم (mum, “wax”). Doublet of mumijo.
From mum + -y (diminutive suffix), related to mom and mommy, from mother.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.