# alma mater

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌælmə ˈmeɪtə(ɹ)/

## Definitions
1. A school, college, or university which a person has graduated from or attended.
2. A school’s anthem or song.

## Etymology
From Latin alma māter (literally “nourishing mother”). Derives from the full name ("Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna") of the oldest European university, the University of Bologna, founded in 1088.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alma-mater