birth

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations 1.3.2 Related terms 1.4 Adjective 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.5 Verb 1.5.1 Usage notes 1.5.2 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: bû(r)th, IPA: /bɜː(ɹ)θ/, SAMPA: /b3:(r)T/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)θ
• Homophones: berth

[edit] Etymology

From Old Norse stern (replacing Old English gebyrd)

[edit] Noun

Wikipedia

birth (countable and uncountable; plural births)

1. (uncountable) The process of childbearing.
2. (countable) An instance of childbirth.
3. (countable) A beginning or start; a point of origin.
4. (uncountable) The circumstances of one's background, ancestry, or upbringing.

   He was of noble birth, but fortune had not favored him.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Adjective

birth (not comparable)

1. A familial relationship established by childbirth.

   Her birth father left when she was a baby; she was raised by her mother and stepfather.

[edit] Synonyms

• biological
• blood
• consanguineous

[edit] Verb

to birth (third-person singular simple present births, present participle birthing, simple past and past participle birthed)

1. (dated or regional) To bear or give birth to (a child).
2. (figuratively) To produce, give rise to.
   • 2006, R. Bruce Hull, Infinite Nature, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 9780226359441, page 156:

     Biological evolution created a human mind that enabled cultural evolution, which now outpaces and outclasses the force that birthed it.

[edit] Usage notes

• The phrase give birth (to) is much more common, especially in literal use.

[edit] Translations