madam

madam
[[t]mæ̱dəm[/t]]
madams
1) N-VOC (politeness) People sometimes say Madam as a very formal and polite way of addressing a woman whose name they do not know or a woman of superior rank. For example, a shop assistant might address a woman customer as Madam.

Try them on, madam.

2) N-VOC You use the expression `Dear madam' at the beginning of a formal letter or a business letter when you are writing to a woman.

Dear Madam, Thank you for your interest in our Memorial Scheme.

3) N-VOC: N n Madam is sometimes used in front of words such as `Chairman' to address the woman who holds the position mentioned.

I have to say this, Madam Chairman.

4) N-COUNT; N-VOC (disapproval) You can call a little girl a madam if you are annoyed because she is being naughty and behaving as if she expects other people to do what she wants. [mainly BRIT, SPOKEN]

Sue is a thoroughly precocious little madam if ever there was one...

Wait till I get you home, young madam.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • Madam — Mad‧am [ˈmædəm] noun 1. a polite way of addressing a woman, such as a customer in a shop: • Can I help you Madam? 2. Dear Madam used at the beginning of a business letter to a woman whose name you do not know 3. Madam… …   Financial and business terms

  • madam — MADÁM s.f. v. madamă. Trimis de claudia, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  MADÁM s. v. doamnă. Trimis de siveco, 13.09.2007. Sursa: Sinonime  madám (doamnă) s. f., g. d. lui madám , voc. madám Trimis de …   Dicționar Român

  • madam — madȁm ž <indekl.> DEFINICIJA 1. a. udata ženska osoba, gospođa; oslovljavanje za suprugu uz njeno prezime [madam Maigret nije dočekala muža; dozvolite da vam predstavim madam Charlota Glembay] b. odrasla ženska osoba općenito, bez… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • madam — madam, madame The English form madam is a now somewhat formal or affectedly courteous form of address to a woman (Dear Madam / Madam Chairman / Can I help you, madam?). When addressing royalty, the shorter form ma am is used. Madame, pronounced… …   Modern English usage

  • madam — madam, de la madam expr. de la policía. ❙ «Tú no eres de la madam que a esos me los huelo yo a cien kilómetros...» Manuel Quinto, Estigma. ❙ «Madán. Cuerpo Nacional de Policía.» JGR …   Diccionario del Argot "El Sohez"

  • madam — [mad′əm] n. pl. madams; for 1, usually mesdames [mā däm′, mādam′] [mā däm′, mādam′] [Fr madame, orig. ma dame < L mea domina, my lady: see DAME] 1. a woman; lady: a polite term of address 2. the mistress of a household ☆ 3. a woman in charge… …   English World dictionary

  • Madam Ke — (zh cp|c=客氏|p=Kè Shì) was the nanny of the young Tianqi Emperor (1605 1627), who was Emperor of China (Ming dynasty) from 1620 to 1627. As he was 15 when he became Emperor, and also illiterate, he delegated all duties to Wei Zhongxian, giving the …   Wikipedia

  • madam — sustantivo femenino 1. Madama. madama o madam sustantivo femenino 1. Uso/registro: coloquial, restringido. Mujer que dirige un prostíbulo: La madama obsequia a los clientes de co …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • Madam — Mad am, n.; pl. {Madams}, or {Mesdames}. [See {Madame}.] 1. A gentlewoman; an appellation or courteous form of address given to a lady, especially an elderly or a married lady; much used in the address, at the beginning of a letter, to a woman.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Madam — Madam,die:⇨Ehefrau …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • madam — c.1300, from O.Fr. ma dame, lit. my lady, from L. mea domina (Cf. MADONNA (Cf. madonna)). Meaning female owner or manager of a brothel is first attested 1871 …   Etymology dictionary

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