I. ˈdȯ-tər, ˈdä- noun
Etymology: Middle English, doughter, from Old English dohtor; akin to Old High German tohter daughter, Greek thygatēr
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a female offspring especially of human parents
b. : a female adopted child
c. : a human female descendant
2. : something considered as a daughter
the United States is a daughter of Great Britain
3. : an atomic species that is the product of the radioactive decay of a given element
• daugh·ter·less -ləs adjective
II. adjective
Date: 1614
1. : having the characteristics or relationship of a daughter
2. : belonging to the first generation of offspring, organelles, or molecules produced by reproduction, division, or replication
daughter cell
daughter DNA molecules