Child

¹

[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

²

[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

/ 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
• childlessness noun
• childly adjective

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

“I never went to teenage parties. I didn’t fit in. I didn’t want to fit in. I basically passed from being a child to an adult.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Watson was heavily criticised for saying that women should have the right to abort her unborn child if tests proved it would be homosexual.

Read more on BBC

"With 4.5m children living in poverty tonight, I am focused on ensuring they have the very best start in life," she added.

Read more on BBC

Already in the works: cash transfers to parents of young children and aid for families with disabled seniors.

Read more on Barron's

Mr Archer said the man explained that he remembered his mother's street address and her sister - who was involved in their introduction - and that she had two children at the time.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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