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Sum vs Mum - What's the difference?

sum | mum |

As a noun sum

is noise (sound or signal generated by random fluctuations).

As a proper noun mum is

one's mother.

sum

English

(wikipedia sum)

Etymology 1

(etyl) summe, from (etyl), from (etyl) summa, feminine of .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A quantity obtained by addition or aggregation.
  • The sum of 3 and 4 is 7.
  • * Bible, Numbers i. 2
  • Take ye the sum of all the congregation.
  • (often plural) An arithmetic computation, especially one posed to a student as an exercise (not necessarily limited to addition).
  • We're learning about division, and the sums are tricky.
  • * Charles Dickens
  • a large sheet of paper covered with long sums
  • A quantity of money.
  • a tidy sum
    the sum of forty pounds
  • * Bible, Acts xxii. 28
  • With a great sum obtained I this freedom.
  • A summary; the principal points or thoughts when viewed together; the amount; the substance; compendium.
  • This is the sum of all the evidence in the case.
    This is the sum and substance of his objections.
  • A central idea or point.
  • The utmost degree.
  • * Milton
  • Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought / My story to the sum of earthly bliss.
  • (obsolete) An old English measure of corn equal to the quarter.
  • * 1882 , James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England , Volume 4, page 207:
  • The sum is also used for the quarter, and the strike for the bushel.
    Synonyms
    * (quantity obtained by addition or aggregation) amount, sum total, summation, total, totality * (arithmetic computation) calculation, computation * (quantity of money) amount, quantity of money, sum of money * (summary) See summary * (central idea or point) center/centre, core, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, kernel, marrow, meat, nub, nitty-gritty, pith substance * (utmost degree) See summit * quarter
    Derived terms
    * a tidy sum * checksum * empty sum * nullary sum
    See also
    * addition, summation: (augend) + (addend) = (summand) + (summand) = (sum, total) * subtraction: (minuend) ? (subtrahend) = (difference) * multiplication: (multiplier) × (multiplicand) = (factor) × (factor) = (product) * division: (dividend) ÷ (divisor) = (quotient), remainder left over if divisor does not divide dividend

    Verb

    (summ)
  • To add together.
  • * 2005 , .
  • when you say that stability and change are, it's because you're summing them up together as embraced by it, and taking note of the communion each of them has with being.
  • To give a summary of.
  • Synonyms
    * (to add together) add, add together, add up, sum up, summate, tally, tot, tot up, total, tote up * (to give a summary of) See summarize

    Etymology 2

    From the (etyl) , all of which have the core signification “pure”, used in elliptical reference to historical coins of pure gold.

    Alternative forms

    *

    Noun

  • (en noun)
  • The basic unit of money in Kyrgyzstan.
  • The basic unit of money in Uzbekistan.
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    mum

    English

    Alternative forms

    * mam * mom, Mom (US) * Mum

    Etymology 1

    Alternative form of mam, or an abbreviation of mummy. Compare mom, mama.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, Australia, Canada, New England, informal) Mother.
  • * 1993 , Hilda Hollingsworth, Places of Greater Safety , Zenobia Press edition, page 278,
  • 'Ooh Mum', Auntie don?t allow smokin’ - Pat?s eyes were round with awe as ' Mum struck a match.
  • * 2004 , Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen, Irene Dunlap, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2 , page 336,
  • Her mum says that she is deaf and only partially sighted, so I need to go and stand in front of her, so she can see the gift.
  • * 2006 , , page 88,
  • Mum'! '''Mum'''!” he shouted out. The laughter stopped. Two bright, sparkling yellow eyes peeped from the hollow. Atop her head were the fluffy ear tufts that his '''mum''' was so proud of because they were fuller and lovelier than those of most Great Horned Owls. It was indeed his ' mum !
  • * 2011 , Chyna, FAM: Rolling in a London Girl Gang , unnumbered page,
  • He?s looking at my mum , at her swollen eyes, busted nose and bloodied lips. She?s mashed up something chronic, and the man who did this to her is my dad.
  • (dated) A term of respect for an older woman.
  • * 1840 , , Volume 1, 1851, page 130,
  • “Wy, mum',” said Mr. Weller, “I don?t think you?ll see a many sich, and that?s the truth. But if my son Samivel vould give me my vay, '''mum , and dis-pense with his—''might I wenter to say the vurd?”
    “What word Mr Weller?” said the housekeeper, blushing slightly.
    “Petticuts, mum ,” returned that gentleman, laying his had upon the garments of his grandson. “If my son Samivel vould only dis-pense vith these here, you?d see sich a alteration in his appearance, as the imagination can?t depicter!”
  • * 1885 , , 2011, unnumbered page,
  • Then she took off the hank and looked me straight in the face, and very pleasant, and says:
    “Come, now, what?s your real name?
    “Wh -- what, mum ?”
    “What?s your real name? Is it Bill, or Tom, or Bob? -- Or what is it?”
    Usage notes
    Mum is only capitalized when used as a proper noun: * I don't think Mum will like you. * I don't think my mum will like you. *In New England, the word may still be spelt "mom", but it will have the pronunciation of "mum."
    Synonyms
    * See also

    Etymology 2

    Abbreviation of chrysanthemum.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A chrysanthemum.
  • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) mum or .

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (colloquial) silent.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The citizens are mum , and speak not a word.
  • (colloquial) secret.
  • Derived terms
    * keep mum * mum's the word

    Interjection

  • stop speaking! hush!
  • * Shakespeare
  • Mum , then, and no more.

    Verb

    (mumm)
  • to act in a pantomime or dumb show
  • Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) silence
  • (Hudibras)

    Etymology 4

    (etyl) Mummere, named after Christian Mumme, who first brewed it in 1492.

    Noun

    (-)
  • A sort of strong beer, originally made in Brunswick, Germany.
  • (Addison)
    The clamorous crowd is hushed with mugs of mum . — Alexander Pope.

    Anagrams

    * * English palindromes ----