parent

[pair-uhnt, par-]

noun

1. a father or a mother.

2. an ancestor, precursor, or progenitor.

3. a source, origin, or cause.

4. a protector or guardian.

5. Biology.,  any organism that produces or generates another.

6. Physics.,  the first nuclide in a radioactive series.

adjective

1. being the original source.

   a parent organization.

2. Biology.,  pertaining to an organism, cell, or complex molecular structure that generates or produces another.

   parent cell;

   parent DNA.

verb (used with object)

1. to be or act as parent of.

   to parent children with both love and discipline.

parent

/ ˈpɛərənt /

noun

1. a father or mother

2. a person acting as a father or mother; guardian

3. rare,  an ancestor

4. a source or cause

5. 1. an organism or organization that has produced one or more organisms or organizations similar to itself

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parent organism

6. physics chem

   1. a precursor, such as a nucleus or compound, of a derived entity

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parent nucleus

      a parent ion

Other Word Forms

• parentless adjective
• parentlike adjective
• nonparent noun
• parenthood noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of parent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin parent-, stem of parēns, noun use of present participle of parere “to bring forth, breed”

Word History and Origins

Origin of parent¹

C15: via Old French from Latin parens parent, from parere to bring forth

Example Sentences

Two parents and a grandmother in Lynwood have been charged with murder and torture after the couple’s 8-year-old child was found dead in a cooler full of ice in Lynwood last week.

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Your parents can divide their estate as they see fit.

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His parents had a player piano in the living room, and at a young age Rinaudo learned how to service it when it needed repairs.

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The book presents a sympathetic portrait of his parents even though he’s frank about his parents not knowing how to fully love or guide their dreamy child and about his father’s alcoholism and depression.

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Waymo, owned by Google’s parent, Alphabet, has been expanding its footprint across California.

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Related Words

• father 
• mother