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

“If discipline is not enforced, the agent is likely to get into trouble. If it is, the parents of the children rush into court for relief.”

From Los Angeles Times

An interesting detail to emerge is the role played by Letby’s parents after she was removed from duty - particularly her father.

From BBC

Census records show that he was an apprentice engineer when he was 17, and he lived with his parents on George Street in Greenock.

From BBC

The band's manager Brian Epstein and Capitol's parent company EMI managed to change the label's minds and on Boxing Day 1963, about a month after Kennedy's assassination, the single hit America's stores.

From BBC

Since then both the girls and their parents have become like family.

From BBC

Related Words

• father
• mother