n.
Pronunciation: ' s ī - ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English sioun, from Old French cion, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English c ī th sprout, shoot, Old High German k ī di
Date: 13th century
1 : a detached living portion of a plant (as a bud or shoot) joined to a stock in grafting and usually supplying solely aerial parts to a graft
2 a : DESCENDANT , CHILD especially : a descendant of a wealthy, aristocratic, or influential family b : HEIR 1 < scion of a railroad empire>