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

• parentless adjective
• parentlike adjective
• nonparent noun
• parenthood 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

Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents were taken hostage from their home in the attacks, told the crowd it was almost two years "since our lives were torn apart".

From BBC

Immigration raids are straining mental health among children and school communities across California, a state where about 1 million children have a parent who is undocumented and about 300,000 students are undocumented themselves.

From Los Angeles Times

He will be ineligible to face his parent club Manchester City when Everton return to action after the international break on 18 October.

From BBC

Both of her parents were prominent in the government of López Obrador, and her sister is the attorney general for Mexico City.

From Los Angeles Times

"It wasn't hard to parent him because he was such a good human," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• father 
• mother