child

¹

[ chahyld ]

noun

, plural chil·dren [chil, -dr, uh, n].

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.

Child

²

[ chahyld ]

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.

child

/ 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 paedo-
4. See pregnant
   with child
   with child another term for pregnant
5. a human offspring; a son or daughter filial
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

Derived Forms

• ˈchildly, adjective
• ˈchildless, adjective
• ˈchildlessness, noun

Other Words From

• child·less adjective
• child·less·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of child¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of child¹

Old English cild; related to Gothic kilthei womb, Sanskrit jathara belly, jartu womb

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. with child, pregnant:

   She's with child.

More idioms and phrases containing child

In addition to the idiom beginning with child , also see second childhood .

Example Sentences

Once a child has one built, they can use an iOS or Android app and program actions via Google’s Blockly coding software.

From Popular-Science

The Norwegian government provides a big basket of universal benefits, including health care, free college at public universities, parental leave, child care, unemployment insurance, and more.

From Freakonomics

Apple added a “family setup” feature, which lets people link multiple Apple Watches to a single iPhone—a useful option for people with children who may not own a device of their own.

From Fortune

The challenge has been compounded in recent months by an increase in the number of children who have entered state care just before or at the time they are cleared for discharge, he said.

From ProPublica

Through its Education Champion Network, the nonprofit organization is investing in initiatives like the Orenda Project, an app that enables digital learning for school-aged children across Pakistan, developed by entrepreneur Haroon Yasin.

From Fortune

Sands was involved in a scandalous-for-the-time romance with the carpenter and there were rumors she was pregnant with his child.

From The Daily Beast

In Sweden parents can use those days up until the child turns 12.

From The Daily Beast

The Great Society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talents.

From The Daily Beast

It needs to be said: bigotry in the name of religion is still bigotry; child abuse wrapped in a Bible verse is still child abuse.

From The Daily Beast

At least one child in CAR has been killed or gravely injured per day, and 10,000 have been recruited into militant groups.

From The Daily Beast

You would not think it too much to set the whole province in flames so that you could have your way with this wretched child.

From Project Gutenberg

He shrank, as from some one who inflicted pain as a child, unwittingly, to see what the effect would be.

From Project Gutenberg

This is one of the most striking manifestations of the better side of child-nature and deserves a chapter to itself.

From Project Gutenberg

The mother's lips could not finish the charge she was about to put upon her innocent child.

From Project Gutenberg

In Luke it is said, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.”

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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