parent

[pair-uhnt, par-]

noun

1. a father or a mother.

2. an ancestor, precursor, or progenitor.

3. a source, origin, or cause.

4. a protector or guardian.

5. Biology.,  any organism that produces or generates another.

6. Physics.,  the first nuclide in a radioactive series.

adjective

1. being the original source.

   a parent organization.

2. Biology.,  pertaining to an organism, cell, or complex molecular structure that generates or produces another.

   parent cell;

   parent DNA.

verb (used with object)

1. to be or act as parent of.

   to parent children with both love and discipline.

parent

/ ˈpɛərənt /

noun

1. a father or mother

2. a person acting as a father or mother; guardian

3. rare,  an ancestor

4. a source or cause

5. 1. an organism or organization that has produced one or more organisms or organizations similar to itself

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parent organism

6. physics chem

   1. a precursor, such as a nucleus or compound, of a derived entity

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parent nucleus

      a parent ion

Other Word Forms

• parenthood noun
• parentless adjective
• parentlike adjective
• nonparent noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of parent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin parent-, stem of parēns, noun use of present participle of parere “to bring forth, breed”

Word History and Origins

Origin of parent¹

C15: via Old French from Latin parens parent, from parere to bring forth

Example Sentences

A group of parents have been attending classes to learn how to protect themselves from violent behaviour from their own children.

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Ms Walker said they did not qualify for Universal Credit and had been told they were "not entitled to any help", so were borrowing money from her parents.

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For the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was killed in the tunnels under Gaza more than a year ago, the emotions of the day were especially complex.

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My parents saw a trial version of this piece in San Jose, my hometown.

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"Many of these students are first-generation graduates. Their parents are farmers, weavers, tailors, policemen - families who take loans to fund their education," she says.

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Related Words

• father 
• mother