child

[ chahyld ]

/ tʃaɪld /

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See synonyms for child on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural chil·dren

[chil-druhn]. /ˈtʃɪl drən/.

a person between birth and puberty or full growth: books for children.

a son or daughter: All my children are married.

a baby or infant: A child of six months can recognize family members.

a human fetus: My sister miscarried with her first child at seven months.

a childish person: He's such a child about money.

a descendant: a child of an ancient breed.

any person or thing regarded as the product or result of particular agencies, influences, etc.: Abstract art is a child of the 20th century.

a person regarded as conditioned or marked by a given circumstance, situation, etc.: a child of poverty; a child of famine.

British Dialect, Archaic. a female infant.

Archaic. childe.

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Idioms about child

with child, pregnant: She's with child.

Origin of child

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

OTHER WORDS FROM child

child·less, adjectivechild·less·ness, noun

Other definitions for child (2 of 2)

Child

[ chahyld ]

/ tʃaɪld /

noun

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use child in a sentence

The CDA was passed not in the name of censorship but in the name of protecting children from stumbling across sexual material.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Professor Penelope Leach told The Daily Beast it was ludicrous to monitor young children in that way.
Britain May Spy on Preschoolers Searching for Potential Jihadis|Nico Hines|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Haringey Council told The Daily Beast that the children had not been taken permanently into state care.
Britain May Spy on Preschoolers Searching for Potential Jihadis|Nico Hines|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We also have a growing body of biological research showing that fathers, like mothers, are hard-wired to care for children.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Indeed, study after study affirms the benefits of involved fatherhood for women and children.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The same outpourings of affection are seen in the dealings of children with their toy babies and animals.
Children's Ways|James Sully
The well-known "cock and bull" stories of small children are inspired by this love of strong effect.
Children's Ways|James Sully
And this summer it seemed to her that she never would be able to take proper care of her nestful of children.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
There were other children beside, and two nurse-maids followed, looking disagreeable and resigned.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

British Dictionary definitions for child

child

/ (tʃaɪld) /

noun plural children

a boy or girl between birth and puberty
(as modifier)child labour

a baby or infant

an unborn babyRelated prefix: paedo-

with child another term for pregnant

a human offspring; a son or daughterRelated adjective: filial

a childish or immature person

a member of a family or tribe; descendanta child of Israel

a person or thing regarded as the product of an influence or environmenta child of nature

Midland English and Western English dialect a female infant

Derived forms of child

childless, adjectivechildlessness, nounchildly, adjective

Word Origin for child

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

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

Medical definitions for child

child

[ chīld ]

A person who has not yet reached puberty.

A son or daughter; an offspring.

A person not of legal age; a minor.

Other Idioms and Phrases with child

child

In addition to the idiom beginning with child

, also see

second childhood

child

Idioms about child

Origin of child

OTHER WORDS FROM child

Other definitions for child (2 of 2)

Words related to child

How to use child in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for child

Derived forms of child

Word Origin for child

Medical definitions for child

Other Idioms and Phrases with child