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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

fam·i·ly       (fām'ə-lē, fām'lē)  Pronunciation Key  n.   pl. fam·i·lies A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children. Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place. A group of like things; a class. A group of individuals derived from a common stock: the family of human beings. All the members of a household under one roof. A group of persons sharing common ancestry. See Usage Note at collective noun. Lineage, especially distinguished lineage. A locally independent organized crime unit, as of the Cosa Nostra. A group of like things; a class. A group of individuals derived from a common stock: the family of human beings. Biology A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus. A family usually consists of several genera. See Table at taxonomy. Linguistics A group of languages descended from the same parent language, such as the Indo-European language family. Mathematics A set of functions or surfaces that can be generated by varying the parameters of a general equation. Chemistry A group of elements with similar chemical properties. Chemistry A vertical column in the periodic table of elements. adj.   Of or having to do with a family: family problems. Being suitable for a family: family movies. [Middle English familie, from Latin familia, household, servants of a household, from famulus, servant.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
family 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

family
noun
1.	a social unit living together; "he moved his family to Virginia"; "It was a good Christian household"; "I waited until the whole house was asleep"; "the teacher asked how many people made up his home"
2.	primary social group; parents and children; "he wanted to have a good job before starting a family"
3.	a collection of things sharing a common attribute; "there are two classes of detergents" [syn: class]
4.	people descended from a common ancestor; "his family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower"
5.	a person having kinship with another or others; "he's kin"; "he's family" [syn: kin]
6.	(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera; "sharks belong to the fish family"
7.	a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities [syn: syndicate]
8.	an association of people who share common beliefs or activities; "the message was addressed not just to employees but to every member of the company family"; "the church welcomed new members into its fellowship"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

family

see in a family way; run in the blood (family).

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

family       (fām'ə-lē)  Pronunciation Key  A group of organisms ranking above a genus and below an order. The names of families end in -ae, a plural ending in Latin. In the animal kingdom, family names end in -idae, as in Canidae (dogs and their kin), while those in the plant kingdom usually end in -aceae, as in Rosaceae (roses and their kin). See Table at taxonomy.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
family

In biology, the classification lower than an order and higher than a genus. Lions, tigers, cheetahs, and house cats belong to the same biological family. Human beings belong to the biological family of hominids. (See Linnean classification.)

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

family fam·i·ly (fām'ə-lē, fām'lē)
n.

1. A group of blood relatives, especially parents and their children.
2. A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: fam·i·ly
Pronunciation: 'fam-lE, 'fa-m&-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -lies
1 : a group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption
2 : a group of usually related individuals who live together under common household authority and esp. who have reciprocal duties to each other
NOTE: The interpretation of the word family in a law context depends upon the area of the law concerned (as contract or zoning law), the purpose of the document (as a statute or contract) in which it is used, and the facts of the case. Often for zoning purposes, the occupants of a group home are considered a family if the organization is like that of a family or if the home is going to be a permanent rather than a transitional residence for the occupants. —fa·mil·ial /f&-'mil-y&l/ adjective

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Family

Fam"i*ly\, n.; pl. Families. [L. familia, fr. famulus servant; akin to Oscan famel servant, cf. faamat he dwells, Skr. dh[=a]man house, fr. dh[=a]to set, make, do: cf. F. famille. Cf. Do, v. t., Doom, Fact, Feat.]

1. The collective body of persons who live in one house, and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children, and servants, and, as the case may be, lodgers or boarders.

2. The group comprising a husband and wife and their dependent children, constituting a fundamental unit in the organization of society.

The welfare of the family underlies the welfare of society. --H. Spencer.

3. Those who descend from one common progenitor; a tribe, clan, or race; kindred; house; as, the human family; the family of Abraham; the father of a family.

Go ! and pretend your family is young. --Pope.

4. Course of descent; genealogy; line of ancestors; lineage.

5. Honorable descent; noble or respectable stock; as, a man of family.

6. A group of kindred or closely related individuals; as, a family of languages; a family of States; the chlorine family.

7. (Biol.) A group of organisms, either animal or vegetable, related by certain points of resemblance in structure or development, more comprehensive than a genus, because it is usually based on fewer or less pronounced points of likeness. In zo["o]logy a family is less comprehesive than an order; in botany it is often considered the same thing as an order.

Family circle. See under Circle.

Family man. (a) A man who has a family; esp., one who has a wife and children living with him andd dependent upon him. (b) A man of domestic habits. "The Jews are generally, when married, most exemplary family men." --Mayhew.

Family of curves or surfaces (Geom.), a group of curves or surfaces derived from a single equation.

In a family way, like one belonging to the family. "Why don't we ask him and his ladies to come over in a family way, and dine with some other plain country gentlefolks?" --Thackeray.

In the family way, pregnant. [Colloq.]