child

¹ American  

[chahyld] / tʃaɪld /

noun

plural

children

1. a person between birth and puberty or full growth.

   books for children.

2. a son or daughter; offspring considered with regard to parents.

   All my children are married.

3. a baby or infant.

   A child of six months can recognize family members.

4. a human fetus.

   My sister is seven months pregnant with a healthy child.

5. a childish person.

   He's such a child about money.

6. a descendant.

   a child of an ancient breed.

7. any person or thing regarded as the product or result of particular agencies, influences, etc..

   Abstract art is a child of the 20th century.

8. a person regarded as conditioned or marked by a given circumstance, situation, etc..

   a child of poverty; a child of famine.

9. British Dialect, Archaic. a female infant.

10. Archaic. childe.

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idioms

1. with child, pregnant.

   She's with child.

Child ² American  

[chahyld] / tʃaɪld /

noun

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

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

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child British  

/ tʃaɪld /

noun

1. 1. a boy or girl between birth and puberty

   2. ( as modifier )

      child labour

2. a baby or infant

3. an unborn baby

4. another term for pregnant

5. a human offspring; a son or daughter

6. a childish or immature person

7. a member of a family or tribe; descendant

   a child of Israel

8. a person or thing regarded as the product of an influence or environment

   a child of nature

9. dialect a female infant

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child More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing child

• second childhood

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Other Word Forms

• childless adjective
• childlessness noun
• childly adjective

Etymology

Origin of child

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

Example Sentences

Blanchett, who takes the lead on his family’s investment decisions, could sell to pay tuition for his four children.

From The Wall Street Journal

“When I looked around, neither my car nor my wife and child were there,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Usually, "we don't talk to him, nor to his children", says Sina.

From BBC

The 49-year-old, who works in the Middle East as a domestic worker, is thousands of miles away from her home in the Philippines, where her husband and three children live.

From BBC

The condition is initially very gradual so for the next few years, Sophia, who is an only child, was still very much herself.

From BBC

Related Words

• baby
• boy
• daughter
• girl
• juvenile
• kid
• minor
• offspring
• son
• youngster
• youth