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 ion

      a parent nucleus

Derived Forms

• ˈparenthood, noun

Other Words From

• parent·less adjective
• parent·like adjective
• non·parent 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

Forty-four years after first considering the concept, “Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints” makes its debut Sunday on Fox Nation, the streamer owned and operated by Fox News Media, the conservative-leaning Fox News Channel’s parent organization.

From Los Angeles Times

Performing his dad’s songs five times a week, “I now have so much more empathy for my parents because I felt how hard it must have been for them.”

From Los Angeles Times

By early 2018, Woodward had dropped out of college and was living with his parents in Newport Beach, while Bernstein was staying with his parents in Lake Forest over winter break.

From Los Angeles Times

Sadat requested that Iza be temporarily released to his parents — who were present in the courtroom — and placed on GPS monitoring so that he could obtain the surgery more quickly.

From Los Angeles Times

For over 150 years, the US government took Native American children away from their parents and families, and sent them to boarding schools.

From NewsForKids.net

Related Words

• father
• mother