madam


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Wikipedia.

Mad·am

 (măd′əm)
n. Abbr. Mdm.
1. pl. Mes·dames (mā-dăm′, -däm′) Used formerly as a courtesy title before a woman's given name but now used only before a surname or title indicating rank or office: Madam Ambassador.
2. Used as a salutation in a letter: Dear Madam or Sir.
3. madam Used as a form of polite address for a woman: Right this way, madam.
4. madam The mistress of a household.
5. madam A woman who manages a brothel.

[Middle English madame, from Old French ma dame; see Madame.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

madam

(ˈmædəm)
n, pl madams or (for sense 1)mesdames (ˈmeɪˌdæm)
1. a polite term of address for a woman, esp one considered to be of relatively high social status
2. a woman who runs a brothel
3. informal Brit a precocious or pompous little girl
4. the madam informal South African the lady of the house
[C13: from Old French ma dame my lady]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

mad•am

(ˈmæd əm)

n., pl. mes•dames (meɪˈdæm, -ˈdɑm)
for 1; mad•ams for 2,3.
1. (often cap.) a respectful term of address to a woman.
2. a woman in charge of a household.
3. the woman in charge of a brothel.
[1250–1300; Middle English< Old French my lady; see dame]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

madam

- French, literally, "my lady."
See also related terms for lady.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.madam - a woman of refinementmadam - a woman of refinement; "a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady"
grande dame - a middle-aged or elderly woman who is stylish and highly respected
madame - title used for a married Frenchwoman
adult female, woman - an adult female person (as opposed to a man); "the woman kept house while the man hunted"
2.madam - a woman who runs a house of prostitutionmadam - a woman who runs a house of prostitution
businesswoman - a female businessperson
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
سَيِّدَةٌسَيِّدَه
panímadam
frue
sinjorino
خانم
rouva
madamesous-maîtresse
gospođa
asszonyom!
frú
奥様
부인
madammiela ponia
kundze
cafetinamadame
madam
gospa
frun
คุณผู้หญิง
quý bà

madam

[ˈmædəm] N (madams or mesdames (pl)) [ˈmeɪdæm]
1.señora f
yes, madamsí, señora
see also dear A4
2. (Brit) (= girl) → niña f malcriada, niña f repipi
3. [of brothel] → madama f, dueña f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

madam

[ˈmædəm] n
(when addressing someone)Madame f
Would you like to order, Madam? → Désirez-vous commander, Madame?
yes madam → oui Madame
Dear Madam (in letter)Chère Madame
Madam Chairman → Madame la Présidente
Madam Speaker → Madame la Présidente de la Chambre des Communes
(= girl)
She's a little madam → C'est une petite pimbêche.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

madam

n
gnädige Frau (old, form); madam, would you kindly desist!würden Sie das bitte unterlassen! (form); yes, madamsehr wohl, gnädige Frau (old, form), → ja (wohl); can I help you, madam?kann ich Ihnen behilflich sein?; dear madam (esp Brit) → sehr geehrte gnädige Frau; Dear Sir or Madam (esp Brit) → Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren
(Brit inf: = girl) → kleine Prinzessin; she’s a spoiled little madamsie ist eine verwöhnte kleine Prinzessin
(of brothel)Bordellwirtin f, → Puffmutter f (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

madam

[ˈmædəm] n
a.signora
can I help you madam? → (la signora) desidera?
Madam Chairman → Signora Presidentessa
a little madam → una bambinetta prepotente
b. (of brothel) → tenutaria
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

madam

(ˈmӕdəm) plurals madams ~mesdames (meiˈdӕm) noun
a polite form of address to a woman.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

madam

سَيِّدَةٌ paní frue gnädige Frau κυρία señora rouva madame gospođa signora 奥様 부인 mevrouw frue pani madame госпожа frun คุณผู้หญิง madam quý bà 女士
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
References in classic literature ?
"Upon my word, madam," answered Sophia, "it is a book which I am neither ashamed nor afraid to own I have read.
"Madam," answered Sophia, trembling, "what I have said you have extorted from me.
"Did you say that you were expecting him by the Lusitania, madam?"
"Will you pardon my asking, madam, if you have seen the newspapers this morning?" he inquired.
"Madam," he added, "I can do nothing myself--nothing!
"Yes, madam; probably to arrange for your protection and comfort in England."
After chatting some time on such matters as naturally arose from the objects around them, he suddenly addressed her with -- "I have hitherto been very remiss, madam, in the proper attentions of a partner here; I have not yet asked you how long you have been in Bath; whether you were ever here before; whether you have been at the Upper Rooms, the theatre, and the concert; and how you like the place altogether.
"No trouble, I assure you, madam." Then forming his features into a set smile, and affectedly softening his voice, he added, with a simpering air, "Have you been long in Bath, madam?"
"Ah, madam," said Buckingham, "we are very unfortunate!
"Because, madam," replied Buckingham, piqued, "because the faithful Parry, the wandering Parry, the eternal Parry, is not, I believe, of much consequence."
'My favourite book, dear madam. How often, how very often in his early life--before he can remember'--(this clause was strictly true) 'have I deduced little easy moral lessons from its pages, for my dear son Ned!
'Dear madam,' he said, pressing her hand delicately to his lips;