kitten

American  

[kit-n] / ˈkɪt n /

noun

1. a young cat.

---

verb (used with or without object)

1. (of cats) to give birth; bear.

kitten British  

/ ˈkɪtən /

noun

1. a young cat

2. US equivalent: have a cow.  informal to react with disapproval, anxiety, etc

   she had kittens when she got the bill

---

verb

1. (of cats) to give birth to (young)

kitten Idioms  

1. see have a fit (kittens); weak as a kitten.

---

Other Word Forms

• kitten-like adjective
• kittenlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of kitten

1350–1400; Middle English kitoun, apparently blend of kiteling kitling and Middle French chitoun, variant of chaton kitten

Example Sentences

I stayed home and I learned and I had more fun than a kitten with twenty balls of yarn and three pretend mice.

From Literature

"The Gardener’s Cat" features Louis, a hypersensitive gardener devastated by the impending loss of his kitten, which has a tumour.

From Barron's

Her voice sounded like a kitten’s, so tender and vulnerable.

From Literature

On the large table is a half-finished jigsaw puzzle of kittens in a knitting basket.

From Literature

Like Tuna, a kitten in one of the barn cats’ litter was born without eyes, and was having trouble nursing.

From Literature

Related Words

• kitty