birth

¹birth

noun, often attributive \ˈbərth\

Definition of BIRTH

1

a : the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent b : the act or process of bringing forth young from the womb

2

: a state resulting from being born especially at a particular time or place <a Southerner by birth>

3

a : lineage, extraction b : high or noble birth

4

a archaic : one that is born b : beginning, start

Examples of BIRTH

1. He was present at the birth of his daughter.
2. The hospital reported an increase in premature births.
3. Please indicate your date of birth.
4. the period from birth to adolescence
5. a disease that is present at birth
6. the birth of the solar system
7. the birth of the blues
8. We are witnessing the birth of a new era.

Origin of BIRTH

Middle English, from Old Norse byrth; akin to Old English beran

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to BIRTH

Synonyms: geniture, nativity

Antonyms: issue, posterity, progeny, seed

Related Words: creation, genesis, nascency, origination, rise; accouchement, bearing, childbearing, labor, parturition; begetting, breeding, fathering, generation, mothering, parenting, reproduction, siring, spawning; fatherhood, maternity, motherhood, parenthood, paternity

Near Antonyms: abortion, miscarriage; stillbirth

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Other Embryology Terms

gravid, neonate, ontogeny, parturition

Rhymes with BIRTH

berth, dearth, earth, firth, girth, mirth, Perth, worth