1.
Maternal is used to describe feelings or actions which are typical of those of a kind mother towards her child.
She had little ~ instinct...
Her feelings towards him were almost ~.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
2.
Maternal is used to describe things that relate to the mother of a baby.
Maternal smoking can damage the unborn child.
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
A ~ relative is one who is related through a person’s mother rather than their father.
Her ~ grandfather was Mayor of Karachi.
ADJ: ADJ n