mothering; maternal care

The state or quality of being a mother.

A proposed form of African feminism focusing on motherhood, nature, and nurture.

The mother of one's spouse. / A mother-in-law apartment. / A mother-in-law sandwich. / (dated) A stepmother.

The woman who gives birth to a child (not necessarily the genetic mother)

The hard pearly inner layer of certain mollusk shells; nacre. / A butterfly of the genus Salamis.

Made from or looking like mother-of-pearl; iridescent or pearly.

A woman who gives birth to a child not her own, with the intent to give that child up to at least one of the biological parents once it is born.

The language one first learned; the language one grew up with; one's native language. / The language spoken by one’s ancestors.

A woman who has adopted a child, as opposed to a biological mother.