BORN

(BEGAN TO EXIST) [adjective] [not gradable] - be born to come into existence by birthShe was born in 1950.I was born English but later became an American citizen.We hoped to see a lamb being born when we visited the farm.Diana was born into a wealthy and aristocratic family.Stevie Wonder was born blind (= was blind from birth).Ann was born and brought up in Ealing.Born blind, she nevertheless became an international concert pianist.The toll of babies born with AIDS is rising.(formal) This was a child born to/of educated parents.(figurative) His arrogance is born of (= comes from) a conviction that he is a superior being.(figurative) It was in that year that the idea of independence was born (= began to exist).She's a Dubliner born and bred (= she has spent all her early life there).To be born with a silver spoon in your mouth is to have a high social position and wealth from birth."Don't try to fool me. I wasn't born yesterday (= I am not as stupid as you seem to think), you know."If someone says they wish they'd never been born they are expressing the deep unhappiness they feel."When I've finished with you you're going to wish you'd never been born," he threatened.A born-again Christian is one who has decided to accept a particular type of evangelical Christianity, esp. after a deep spiritual experience.Cliff Richard is a born-again Christian.(figurative) My mother is a born-again health freak (= she has become extremely enthusiastic about health). -born [suffix]newbornstillbornBen Okri is a Nigerian-born poet and novelist.In the past the first-born son inherited everything.