member

[ mem-ber ]

/ ˈmɛm bər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR member ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person, animal, plant, group, etc., that is part of a society, party, community, taxon, or other body.

Government.

a member of Congress, especially of the House of Representatives.
a member of the British Parliament, especially of the House of Commons.
any member of a legislative body.

a part or organ of an animal body; a limb, as a leg, arm, or wing.

Botany. a structural entity of a plant body.

the penis.

a constituent part of any structural or composite whole, as a subordinate architectural feature of a building.

Mathematics.

either side of an equation.
an element of a set.

Geology. a stratigraphic unit recognized within a formation, and mapped as such.

adjective

being a member of or having membership in an association, organization, etc.: member countries of the United Nations.

Nearby words

Origin of member

1250–1300; Middle English membre < Old French < Latin membrum

SYNONYMS FOR member

6. element, portion.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR member ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsmem·ber·less, adjectivesub·mem·ber, noun

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

Examples from the Web for member

They took cover inside a print works to the north east of Paris, where they held a member of staff as a hostage.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What matters is being honest, humble, and a faithful and loyal friend, father and member of your community.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv|Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Reprinted by arrangement with The Penguin Press, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His son, Yaqoob Bizenjo, served as a member of the National Assembly until 2013.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He may have been relieved to head for Westminster as a Member of Parliament on Oct. 1, 1386.
A Year In The Life of The Canterbury Tales’ Storied Beginnings|Wendy Smith|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"He is the member for North Northamptonshire," I timidly replied.
The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 25, January 1893|Various
The minister there, who introduces his plans, must be a member of the House of Commons.
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. I (of 16)|Thomas Hart Benton
In many towns no one was allowed to work at a trade or sell merchandise who was not a member of a guild.
Introductory American History|Henry Eldridge Bourne
If the incensed father, who was a member of the Council, used the full severity of the law, he might fare even worse than ill.
In The Fire Of The Forge, Complete|Georg Ebers
At first the notorious Abb Sieys had been chosen a member of the executive.
The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte|William Milligan Sloane

British Dictionary definitions for member

member

/ (ˈmɛmbə) /

noun

a person who belongs to a club, political party, etc

any individual plant or animal in a taxonomic groupa member of the species

any part of an animal body, such as a limb

another word for penis

any part of a plant, such as a petal, root, etc

maths any individual object belonging to a set or logical class

a distinct part of a whole, such as a proposition in a syllogism

a component part of a building or construction

Derived Formsmemberless, adjective

Word Origin for member

C13: from Latin membrum limb, part

Member

/ (ˈmɛmbə) /

noun (sometimes not capital)

short for Member of Parliament

short for Member of Congress

a member of some other legislative body

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

Word Origin and History for member

member

late 13c., "sex organ" (cf. Latin membrum virile, but in English originally of women as well as men), also, "body part or organ" (in plural, "the body"), from Old French membre "part, portion; topic, subject; limb, member of the body; member" (of a group, etc.)," 11c., from Latin membrum "limb, member of the body, part," probably from PIE *mems-ro, from root *mems- "flesh, meat" (cf. Sanskrit mamsam "flesh;" Greek meninx "membrane," meros "thigh" (the "fleshy part"); Gothic mimz "flesh"). In English, sense of "person belonging to a group" is first attested early 14c., from notion of "constituent part of a complex structure." Meaning "one who has been elected to parliament" is from early 15c.

Medicine definitions for member