I. ˈfam-lē, ˈfa-mə- noun
( plural -lies )
Etymology: Middle English familie, from Latin familia household (including servants as well as kin of the householder), from famulus servant
Date: 15th century
1. : a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household
2.
a. : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan
b. : a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race
3.
a. : a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship
b. : the staff of a high official (as the President)
4. : a group of things related by common characteristics: as
a. : a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds
b. : a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification
c. : a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language
5.
a. : the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children ; also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family
a single-parent family
b. : spouse and children
want to spend more time with my family
6.
a. : a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera
b. in livestock breeding
(1) : the descendants or line of a particular individual especially of some outstanding female
(2) : an identifiable strain within a breed
7. : a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters
8. : a unit of a crime syndicate (as the Mafia) operating within a geographical area
• fam·i·ly·hood -ˌhu̇d noun
II. adjective
Date: 1602
1. : of or relating to a family
2. : designed or suitable for both children and adults
family restaurants
family movies