child   (chīld)    n.   pl. chil·dren (chĭl'drən) A person between birth and puberty. A person who has not attained maturity or the age of legal majority. An unborn infant; a fetus. An infant; a baby. An individual regarded as strongly affected by another or by a specified time, place, or circumstance: a child of nature; a child of the Sixties. A product or result of something specified: "Times Square is a child of the 20th century" (Richard F. Shepard). An unborn infant; a fetus. An infant; a baby. An individual regarded as strongly affected by another or by a specified time, place, or circumstance: a child of nature; a child of the Sixties. A product or result of something specified: "Times Square is a child of the 20th century" (Richard F. Shepard). One who is childish or immature. A son or daughter; an offspring. A member of a tribe; descendant: children of Abraham. An individual regarded as strongly affected by another or by a specified time, place, or circumstance: a child of nature; a child of the Sixties. A product or result of something specified: "Times Square is a child of the 20th century" (Richard F. Shepard). [Middle English, from Old English cild.] child'less adj., child'less·ness n.

Child

Child\ (ch[imac]ld), n.; pl. Children (ch[i^]l"dr[e^]n). [AS. cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth. kil[thorn]ei womb, in-kil[thorn][=o] with child.]

1. A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; -- in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and plants.

2. A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.

3. One who, by character of practice, shows signs of relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one closely connected with a place, occupation, character, etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the devil; a child of disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the people.

4. A noble youth. See Childe. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

5. A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc.

When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. --1. Cor. xii. 11.

6. A female infant. [Obs.]

A boy or a child, I wonder? --Shak.

To be with child, to be pregnant.

Child's play, light work; a trifling contest.

child 

Main Entry: child
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural chil·dren
1 : a son or daughter of any age and usually including one formally adopted —compare ISSUE
NOTE: The word child as used in a statute or will is often held to include a stepchild, an illegitimate child, a person for whom one stands in loco parentis, or sometimes a more remote descendant, such as a grandchild. In interpreting the word child as used in a will, the court will try to effectuate the intent of the person who made the will as it can be determined from the language of the will.
2 : a person below an age specified by law : INFANT, MINOR child under 16 years of age> —compare ADULT
NOTE: A person who is below the statutory age but is married will usually be considered an adult.

Main Entry: child
Pronunciation: 'chI(&)ld
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural chil·dren /'chil-dr&n, -d&rn/
1 : an unborn or recently born person
2 : a young person especially between infancy and youth —with child : PREGNANT

child (chīld)
n.

1. A person between birth and puberty.
2. An unborn infant; a fetus.
3. An infant; a baby.
4. One who is childish or immature.
5. A son or daughter; an offspring.

child
daughter

Child

This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Gen. 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1 Kings 3:7). The descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, "the children of Edom," "the children of Moab," "the children of Israel." In the earliest times mothers did not wean their children till they were from thirty months to three years old; and the day on which they were weaned was kept as a festival day (Gen. 21:8; Ex. 2:7, 9; 1 Sam. 1:22-24; Matt. 21:16). At the age of five, children began to learn the arts and duties of life under the care of their fathers (Deut. 6:20-25; 11:19). To have a numerous family was regarded as a mark of divine favour (Gen. 11:30; 30:1; 1 Sam. 2:5; 2 Sam. 6:23; Ps. 127:3; 128:3). Figuratively the name is used for those who are ignorant or narrow-minded (Matt. 11:16; Luke 7:32; 1 Cor. 13:11). "When I was a child, I spake as a child." "Brethren, be not children in understanding" (1 Cor. 14:20). "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro" (Eph. 4:14). Children are also spoken of as representing simplicity and humility (Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). Believers are "children of light" (Luke 16:8; 1 Thess. 5:5) and "children of obedience" (1 Pet. 1:14).

child

In addition to the idiom beginning with child, also see second childhood.