child

¹

[chahyld]

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.

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

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

Other Word Forms

• childless adjective
• childly adjective
• childlessness 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

• second childhood

Example Sentences

Before he abandons his original directive entirely, an effect of it being overwritten by other programming, he warns Rain that she won’t see him like a child anymore.

From Salon

The vote on the Sanders resolution also took place at an especially visceral moment of Israel’s assault on Gaza, with images of starving children going viral and the international media reporting on a looming famine.

From Salon

On 25 July, a classroom roof collapsed in Piplodi, killing seven children, injuring 21 others and leaving the village school unusable.

From BBC

The team includes medical staff, child protection experts and a mental health team, the agency said, adding that up to 1,000 people had been affected.

From BBC

She became a music teacher at Wansbeck Primary School in Kingston upon Hull, which has a progressive programme for the inclusion of children with learning difficulties.

From BBC

Related Words

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