parent

Pluralparents

Formsparents, parenting, parented

1. 1
   nouncountableplural

   A mother or father. Someone who has a child or who brings up a child as their own.

   Like a gardener who looks after a young plant until it grows.

   Every parent wants the best for their child.

   Her parents read to her every night before bed.

   UsageUse relatives for family members in general, including aunts and cousins.

   Oppositechild, offspring

   Note
2. 2
   bring upverbtransitive or intransitive

   To raise and take care of a child.

   Like teaching a young bird until it can fly on its own.

   They parent with patience and a lot of love.

   Parenting two toddlers keeps her busy all day.

   UsageYou often see parenting: parenting is hard work.

   Similarraise, rear

   Note
3. 3
   owning companynouncountablebefore a noun

   A company that owns and controls other, smaller companies.

   Like a main store that runs many smaller shops.

   The parent sold off one of its struggling brands.

   Profits from each store flow back to the parent.

   UsageUsually parent company. Say the parent alone only when it is clear.

   Oppositesubsidiary

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A living thing that a plant or animal comes from.

   Like a plant that drops seeds that grow into new plants.

   Each parent passes some of its traits to its young.

   The two parents produced a strong, healthy litter.

   Similarprogenitor

   Oppositeoffspring, progeny

   Note
5. 5
   originnouncountable

   The thing that something else comes from or grows out of.

   Like a seed that a whole tree grows from.

   Latin is the parent of many modern languages.

   Curiosity is often the parent of great inventions.

   UsageUsually the parent of something. It sounds formal.

   Similarsource, origin, mother, root, cradle

   Oppositeoffshoot, product

   Note

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