kitten

KIT-n/ˈkɪtn̩/

6 meanings of kitten

1
nouncountable
A baby cat that has not grown up yet.
Like a puppy, but a baby cat instead of a baby dog.
The kitten chased a ball of yarn across the floor.
We adopted a tiny kitten from the shelter last week.
2
verbtransitive or intransitive
To give birth to baby cats.
Like a dog having puppies, but for cats.
Our cat will kitten soon, the vet says.
The stray kittened five healthy young behind the shed.
3
nouncountable
A baby rabbit, rat, fox, or other small animal.
The fox carried a kitten gently back to the den.
Several rabbit kittens nestled together in the warm nest.
4
nouncolloquial
A loving name for someone, especially a woman.
Like calling someone 'sweetie' or 'honey.'
Come here, kitten, and tell me what's wrong.
Don't worry, kitten, everything will be fine.
Similardarling, sweetheart, honey, sweetie, babe
5
nouncolloquialcountable
A girlfriend, or a woman someone is dating.
His kitten met his parents for the first time at dinner, and she was very nervous.
She has been his kitten for almost a year now.
Similargirlfriend, sweetheart, girl
6
nouncountable
A type of small moth in the group called Furcula.
A kitten landed on the lit window screen after dark.
We spotted several kittens near the poplar trees that night.

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English kitoun, of unclear origin. It probably came from an Anglo-Norman word related to Old French chaton, a little form of chat meaning "cat."