English
madam
see also: Madam
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈmæd.əm/
Noun

madam (plural madams)

  1. (dated in the UK) A polite form of address for a woman or lady.
    Mrs Grey wondered if the outfit she was trying on made her look fat. The sales assistant just said, “It suits you, madam”.
    Later, Mrs Grey was sitting in her favourite tea shop. “Would madam like the usual cream cakes and patisserie with her tea?” the waitress asked.
  2. The mistress of a household.
  3. (colloquial) A conceited or quarrelsome girl.
    Selina kept pushing and shoving during musical chairs. The nursery school teacher said she was a bad-tempered little madam.
  4. (slang) A woman who runs a brothel, particularly one that specializes in finding prostitutes for rich and important clients.
    After she grew too old to work as a prostitute, she became a madam.
Synonyms Related terms Translations Translations Translations Verb

madam (madams, present participle madaming; past and past participle madamed)

  1. (transitive) To address as "madam".
    • 1905, William Clark Russell, The Yarn of Old Harbour Town (page 208)
      He bowed to me, he madamed me, he was throughout as gentlemanlike and respectful as I had ever found him when we met at Old Harbour House or in Old Harbour Town.
    • 1988, Gahan Wilson, Eddy Deco's Last Caper (page 123)
      "I don't care," she said. "They'll be dead in a few minutes if you'll just do your job. Stop madaming me and get to work."
Madam
Noun

madam (plural madams)

  1. Alternative letter-case form of madam


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