n. & v.
n. 1 a person who has begotten or borne offspring; a father or mother. 2 a person who has adopted a child. 3 a forefather. 4 an animal or plant from which others are derived. 5 a source or origin. 6 an initiating organization or enterprise.
v.tr. (also absol.) be a parent of. parent company a company of which other companies are subsidiaries. parent-teacher association a local organization of parents and teachers for promoting closer relations and improving educational facilities at a school. parental adj. parentally adv. parenthood n.
[ ME f. OF f. L parens parentis f. parere bring forth ]