n.
Pronunciation: ' per- ə nt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin parent-, parens; akin to Latin parere to give birth to
Date: 15th century
1 a : one that begets or brings forth offspring b : a person who brings up and cares for another
2 a : an animal or plant that is regarded in relation to its offspring b : the material or source from which something is derived c : a group from which another arises and to which it usually remains subsidiary <a parent company>
– parent adjective
– pa · ren · tal \ p ə - ' ren-t ə l \ adjective
– pa · ren · tal · ly \ -t ə l- ē \ adverb
– par · ent · less \ ' per- ə nt-l ə s \ adjective