CHILD

[noun] [C] [plural] children - a boy or girl from the time of birth until he or she is an adult, or a son or daughter of any ageWhen she was a child she was always healthy.A small group of children waited outside the door.I won't allow a child of mine to go out dressed like that!Both her children are now married with children of their own.Jan is married with three young children.The minister is reported to have fathered several illegitimate children.There were people outside the abortion clinic campaigning for the rights of the unborn child.See also brainchild.(disapproving) An adult can be called a child if they behave the way a child would.He can't stand not getting his own way - he's such a child.If someone is a child of something such as a period of recent history they are very influenced by it.She's always talking about peace and love - she's a real child of the sixties.(informal) Child's play is something that is very easy to do.Using computers nowadays is child's play compared to how difficult they were to use twenty years ago.(old use) A woman who is (great) with child is (very) pregnant.Child abuse is the act of making a child suffer physically, sexually or emotionally when it is done either by their parents, or by adults who should be taking care of them.(UK) Child benefit/(US) Aid to Families with Dependent Children is money received regularly by families from the government to help pay for the costs of caring for children.Child care is care for children provided by either the government, an organization or a person, while parents are at work or are absent for another reason.What child care facilities does your company offer?Without the adequate provision of child care, many women who wish to work are unable to do so.Child-free describes people who choose not to have children, or a place or situation without children.a child-free couple/hotel/lifestyleA children's home is a place where children are cared for if their parents are dead or unable to take care of them.A child molester is a person who tries to have sex with children.Police are trying to catch a child molester who is active in the area.Why shouldn't a woman have a job after years of child-rearing (= caring for children)?(saying) 'Children should be seen and not heard' means that children should behave and should not make any unnecessary noise.