parent
[ pair-uhnt, par- ]
/ ˈpɛər ənt, ˈpær- /
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noun
adjective
being the original source: a parent organization.
Biology. pertaining to an organism, cell, or complex molecular structure that generates or produces another: parent cell; parent DNA.
verb (used with object)
to be or act as parent of: to parent children with both love and discipline.
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Origin of parent
1375–1425; late Middle English (<Middle French ) <Latin parent- (stem of parēns), noun use of present participle of parere to bring forth, breed
OTHER WORDS FROM parent
par·ent·less, adjectivepar·ent·like, adjectivenon·par·ent, nounWords nearby parent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for parent
British Dictionary definitions for parent
parent
/ (ˈpɛərənt) /
noun
a father or mother
a person acting as a father or mother; guardian
rare an ancestor
a source or cause
- an organism or organization that has produced one or more organisms or organizations similar to itself
- (as modifier)a parent organism
physics chem
- a precursor, such as a nucleus or compound, of a derived entity
- (as modifier)a parent nucleus; a parent ion
Derived forms of parent
parenthood, nounWord Origin for parent
C15: via Old French from Latin parens parent, from parere to bring forth
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 parent
parent
[ pâr′ənt ]
n.
One who begets, gives birth to, or nurtures and raises a child; a father or mother.
An ancestor; a progenitor.
An organism that produces or generates offspring.
v.
To act as a parent to; to rear and nurture.
To cause to come into existence; to serve as a source for; originate.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.