birth
(bûrth)
[Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin.]
noun
- The emergence and separation of offspring from the body of the mother.
- The act or process of bearing young; parturition: the mare's second birth.
- The circumstances or conditions relating to this event, as its time or location: an incident that took place before my birth; a Bostonian by birth.
- The set of characteristics or circumstances received from one's ancestors; inheritance: strong-willed by birth; acquired their wealth through birth.
- Origin; extraction: of Swedish birth; of humble birth.
- Noble or high status: persons of birth.
- A beginning or commencement. See synonyms at beginning
transitive verb: birthed, birth·ing, births.
Chiefly Southern U.S.- To deliver (a baby).
- To bear (a child).
