/ məˈtɜːnl; NAmE məˈtɜːrnl/ adjective
1.
having feelings that are typical of a caring mother towards a child :
maternal love
I'm not very maternal.
She didn't have any maternal instincts.
2.
connected with being a mother :
Maternal age affects the baby's survival rate.
3.
[ only before noun ] related through the mother's side of the family :
my maternal grandfather (= my mother's father)
► ma·ter·nal·ly / -nəli; NAmE / adverb :
She behaved maternally towards her students.
—compare paternal
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: from French maternel , from Latin maternus , from mater mother.