birthing

[ bur-thing ]

/ ˈbɜr θɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR birthing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an act or instance of giving birth, especially by natural childbirth.

Nearby words

birthdate, birthday, birthday honours, birthday suit, birther, birthing, birthing ball, birthing center, birthing centre, birthing chair, birthing pool

Origin of birthing

First recorded in 1925–30; birth + -ing¹

Definition for birthing (2 of 2)

birth

[ burth ]

/ bɜrθ /

noun

an act or instance of being born: the day of his birth.

the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring; childbirth; parturition: a difficult birth.

lineage; extraction; descent: of Grecian birth.

high or noble lineage: to be foolishly vain about one's birth.

natural heritage: a musician by birth.

any coming into existence; origin; beginning: the birth of Protestantism; the birth of an idea.

Archaic. something that is born.

verb (used with object) Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.

to give birth to.

to assist in giving birth; act as midwife for.

Origin of birth

1150–1200; Middle English byrthe < Scandinavian; compare Old Swedish byrth; cognate with Old English gebyrd, Old High German giburt, Gothic gabaurths

SYNONYMS FOR birth

3 parentage, ancestry, line, blood, family.

6 start, commencement, inception, genesis; launching, inauguration.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR birth ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

mul·ti·birth, noun

Can be confused

berth birth

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for birthing

Then French obstetricians advocated that the method would reduce pain and create a birthing environment free of stress.
Are Water Births Toxic to Babies?|Brandy Zadrozny|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The refurbished private Lindo wing has the latest maternal facilities including a birthing pool.
Kate's Last Day of Work Tomorrow Suggests Early July Due Date|Tom Sykes|June 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She has been known to perform various magical acts, among them birthing a shadowy assassin that killed Renly Baratheon.
‘Game of Thrones’ Season 3 for Dummies|Jace Lacob|March 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Second, Tanzania has existing medical infrastructure that can be upgraded to serve as birthing centers.
Mayor Bloomberg: No Woman Should Die Giving Birth|Michael R. Bloomberg|October 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST

For centuries, men were not involved in birthing in this country—period.
Sarkozy Missed Daughter's Birth—What People Think|Jessica Bennett|October 22, 2011|DAILY BEAST
She felt like telling Wind Bends Grass to leave the birthing wickiup.
Shaman|Robert Shea
Hunt ducks in the fall, plow the land in the spring, help at the birthing of calves and lambs and foals?
Plowing On Sunday|Sterling North
This one seems to be birthing the dictatorship of the intellectuals.
The Sensitive Man|Poul William Anderson
The big sad eyes of it were like those of Maisie, poor lass, when she had the birthing that was her going-call.
The Washer of the Ford|Fiona Macleod
Had not Yellow Hair been in the birthing wickiup with Redbird?
Shaman|Robert Shea

British Dictionary definitions for birthing

birth

/ (bɜːθ) /

noun

the process of bearing young; parturition; childbirthRelated adjective: natal

the act or fact of being born; nativity

the coming into existence of something; origin

ancestry; lineageof high birth

noble ancestrya man of birth

natural or inherited talentan artist by birth

archaic the offspring or young born at a particular time or of a particular mother

give birth

to bear (offspring)
to produce, originate, or create (an idea, plan, etc)

verb (tr) rare

to bear or bring forth (a child)

Word Origin for birth

C12: from Old Norse byrth; related to Gothic gabaurths, Old Swedish byrdh, Old High German berd child; see bear 1, bairn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for birthing (1 of 2)

birthing

[ bûr′thĭng ]

adj.

Having to do with or used during birth.

n.

The act of giving birth.

Medicine definitions for birthing (2 of 2)

birth

[ bûrth ]

n.

The emergence and separation of offspring from the body of the mother.

The act or process of bearing young; parturition.

The circumstances or conditions relating to this event, as its time or location.

The set of characteristics or circumstances received from one's ancestors; inheritance.

Origin; extraction.

Science definitions for birthing

birth

[ bûrth ]

Noun

The emergence and separation of offspring from the body of its mother, seen in all mammals except monotremes.

birthing

noun

Nearby words

Origin of birthing

Definition for birthing (2 of 2)

birth

noun

verb (used with object) Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.

Origin of birth

SYNONYMS FOR birth

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for birthing

British Dictionary definitions for birthing

birth

noun

verb (tr) rare

Word Origin for birth

Medicine definitions for birthing (1 of 2)

birthing

adj.

n.

Medicine definitions for birthing (2 of 2)

birth

n.

Science definitions for birthing

birth

Noun

Adjective

Idioms and Phrases with birthing

birth