child
Pluralchildren
Pluralchildren
Formschilds, childing, childed
- 1A young boy or girl who is not yet an adult.
Like a young plant that has not yet grown into a full tree.
Every child in the class received a small gift.
The children played in the park until it grew dark.
UsageOne child, two children (not
incorrect: childrens). Children's books.Similarkid, youngster, minor, juvenile
Note
- 2A son or daughter of a parent, even when fully grown.
Like a branch that grew from a tree: still part of it no matter how big it gets.
Her youngest child just turned forty last week.
All three children came home for the holidays.
UsageUsually with my, your or their: my child, their children, even when grown up.
Similaroffspring
Oppositeparent
Note
- 3A grown-up who acts in a silly or careless way, or who knows very little about something.
My uncle is such a child about losing at board games.
When it comes to money, my roommate is a complete child.
UsageDon't be such a child means stop acting silly. A child in money matters knows little about money.
Less common meanings
- 4A person or thing shaped or produced by a certain place, time, or idea.
Like a plant that shows what soil it grew in.
She is a true child of the mountains.
They are children of the city, quick and restless.
UsageUsually child of: a child of the city.
Similarproduct
Note
- 5In computing, an item that comes directly under another item, called its parent.
Like a helper who follows the boss's orders.
The main program starts a child to handle the printing.
On my computer, the Photos folder is a child of the Pictures folder.
Oppositeparent
Note
- 6A girl rather than a boy.
A boy, or a Childe I wonder?
c. 1610, William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”Here, Childe means a girl, as opposed to a boy.Note
- 7To give birth to a child, or to father one.
My liefe (ſayd ſhe) ye know, that long ygo, Whileſt ye in durance dwelt, ye to me gaue A little mayde, the which ye chylded tho ; The ſame againe if now ye liſt to haue, The ſame is yonder Lady, whom high God did ſaue.
1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, chylded means gave birth to a child.Note
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
This word comes from Old English "ċild." Its older roots meant "womb" or "fetus."
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- English child derives from Old English ċild. en.wiktionary.org
- An older reconstructed ancestor is glossed as womb or fetus. en.wiktionary.org
This comes from Middle English "childen," made from the noun "child."
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- The verb child comes from Middle English childen. en.wiktionary.org
- Middle English childen was formed from the noun child. en.wiktionary.org