/ bɜːθ; NAmE bɜːrθ/ noun
1.
[ U , C ] the time when a baby is born; the process of being born :
The baby weighed three kilos at birth .
John was present at the birth of both his children.
It was a difficult birth.
a hospital / home birth
Mark has been blind from birth .
Please state your date and place of birth .
2.
[ sing. ] the beginning of a new situation, idea, place, etc. :
the birth of a new society in South Africa
3.
[ U ] a person's origin or the social position of their family :
Anne was French by birth but lived most of her life in Italy.
a woman of noble birth
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IDIOMS
- give birth (to sb/sth)
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old Norse byrth ; related to the verb bear .