child

¹

[chahyld]

noun

plural

children 

1. a person between birth and puberty or full growth.

   books for children.

2. a son or daughter; offspring considered with regard to parents.

   All my children are married.

3. a baby or infant.

   A child of six months can recognize family members.

4. a human fetus.

   My sister is seven months pregnant with a healthy child.

5. a childish person.

   He's such a child about money.

6. a descendant.

   a child of an ancient breed.

7. any person or thing regarded as the product or result of particular agencies, influences, etc..

   Abstract art is a child of the 20th century.

8. a person regarded as conditioned or marked by a given circumstance, situation, etc..

   a child of poverty; a child of famine.

9. British Dialect, Archaic.,  a female infant.

10. Archaic.,  childe.

Child

²

[chahyld]

noun

1. Julia, 1912–2004, U.S. gourmet cook, author, and television personality.

2. Lydia Maria (Francis), 1802–80, U.S. author, abolitionist, and social reformer.

child

/ tʃaɪld /

noun

1. 1. a boy or girl between birth and puberty

   2. ( as modifier )

      child labour

2. a baby or infant

3. an unborn baby

4. another term for pregnant

5. a human offspring; a son or daughter

6. a childish or immature person

7. a member of a family or tribe; descendant

   a child of Israel

8. a person or thing regarded as the product of an influence or environment

   a child of nature

9. dialect,  a female infant

Other Word Forms

• childless adjective
• childly adjective
• childlessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of child¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English cild; akin to Gothic kilthai “womb”

Word History and Origins

Origin of child¹

Old English cild; related to Gothic kilthei womb, Sanskrit jathara belly, jartu womb

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. with child, pregnant.

   She's with child.

More idioms and phrases containing child

• second childhood

Example Sentences

Anyway, the Danish study was criticized — in the same journal that had published it — for its reliance on a very small sample of children.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The center’s inclusive approach keeps students learning alongside typically developing children, integrating services such as physical and occupational therapy into the children’s regular activities and playtime.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A driver who stopped to help the children said it was "the most distressing and horrific thing I have ever seen in my life".

Read more on BBC

Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child.

Read more on BBC

She and her husband share custody of two children, one of whom is disabled.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• baby 
• boy 
• daughter 
• girl 
• juvenile 
• kid 
• minor 
• offspring 
• son 
• youngster 
• youth