parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.
2.
the children of one person or one couple collectively: We want a large family.
3.
the spouse and children of one person: We're taking the family on vacation next week.
4.
any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins: to marry into a socially prominent family.
5.
all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor.
6.
Chiefly British. approved lineage, esp. noble, titled, famous, or wealthy ancestry: young men of family.
7.
a group of persons who form a household under one head, including parents, children, and servants.
8.
the staff, or body of assistants, of an official: the office family.
9.
a group of related things or people: the family of romantic poets; the halogen family of elements.
10.
a group of people who are generally not blood relations but who share common attitudes, interests, or goals and, frequently, live together: Many hippie communes of the sixties regarded themselves as families.
11.
a group of products or product models made by the same manufacturer or producer.
12.
Biology. the usual major subdivision of an order or suborder in the classification of plants, animals, fungi, etc., usually consisting of several genera.
13.
Slang. a unit of the Mafia or Cosa Nostra operating in one area under a local leader.
14.
Linguistics. the largest category into which languages related by common origin can be classified with certainty: Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan, and Austronesian are the most widely spoken families of languages. Compare stock(def. 12), subfamily(def. 2).
15.
Mathematics.
a.
a given class of solutions of the same basic equation, differing from one another only by the different values assigned to the constants in the equation.
b.
a class of functions or the like defined by an expression containing a parameter.
c.
a set.
–adjective
16.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a family: a family trait.
17.
belonging to or used by a family: a family automobile; a family room.
18.
suitable or appropriate for adults and children: a family amusement park.
19.
not containing obscene language: a family newspaper.
—Idiom
20.
in a or the family way, pregnant.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME familie < L familia a household, the slaves of a household, equiv. to famul(us) servant, slave + -ia-y3]
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.]
c.1400, "servants of a household," from L. familia "household," including relatives and servants, from famulus "servant," of unknown origin. The classical L. sense recorded in Eng. from 1545; the main modern sense of "those connected by blood" (whether living together or not) is first attested 1667. Replaced O.E. hiwscipe. Buzzword family values first recorded 1966. Phrase in a family way "pregnant" is from 1796. Family circle is 1809; family man, one devoted to wife and children, is 1856 (earlier it meant "thief," 1788, from family in slang sense of "the fraternity of thieves").
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"
(singular or plural) a man, his wife and their children Example: These houses were built for families; The (members of the) Smith family are all very athletic; (also adjective) a family holiday
Arabic:
عائِلَه
Chinese (Simplified):
家庭
Chinese (Traditional):
家庭
Czech:
rodina; rodinný
Danish:
familie; familie-
Dutch:
gezin
Estonian:
pere(kond)
Finnish:
perhe
French:
famille
German:
die Familie, Familien…
Greek:
οικογένεια, οικογενειακός
Hungarian:
család; (melléknévként) családi
Icelandic:
fjölskylda
Indonesian:
keluarga
Italian:
famiglia
Japanese:
家族
Latvian:
ģimene; ģimenes-
Lithuanian:
šeima; šeimyninis
Norwegian:
(kjerne)familie
Polish:
rodzina
Portuguese (Brazil):
família
Portuguese (Portugal):
família
Romanian:
familie
Russian:
семья
Slovak:
rodina; rodinný
Slovenian:
družina
Spanish:
familia
Swedish:
familj, familje-
Turkish:
aile
family2[ˈfӕməli]noun
a group of people related to each other, including cousins, grandchildren etc Example: He comes from a wealthy family; (also adjective) the family home
Arabic:
نَسْل، آل
Chinese (Simplified):
家族
Chinese (Traditional):
家族
Czech:
rodina; rodinný
Danish:
familie; familie-
Dutch:
familie
Estonian:
suguvõsa
Finnish:
suku
French:
famille
German:
die Familie
Greek:
οικογένεια
Hungarian:
család; (melléknévként) családi
Icelandic:
ættingjar, skyldmenni
Indonesian:
keluarga
Italian:
famiglia
Japanese:
一族
Latvian:
dzimta
Lithuanian:
šeima, giminė
Norwegian:
familie, slekt
Polish:
rodzina, ród
Portuguese (Brazil):
família
Portuguese (Portugal):
família
Romanian:
familie
Russian:
род
Slovak:
rodina; rodinný
Slovenian:
rodbina, rodbinski
Spanish:
familia
Swedish:
familj, släkt
Turkish:
aile
family3[ˈfӕməli]noun
the children of a man and his wife Example: When I get married I should like a large family.
Arabic:
أُسْرَه
Chinese (Simplified):
子女
Chinese (Traditional):
子女
Czech:
rodina
Danish:
familie
Dutch:
gezin
Estonian:
järeltulijad
Finnish:
perhe
French:
famille
German:
die Familie
Greek:
οικογένεια
Hungarian:
család
Icelandic:
afkvæmi, börn
Indonesian:
keluarga
Italian:
famiglia
Japanese:
子供
Latvian:
(vienas ģimenes) bērni un sieva
Lithuanian:
šeimyna
Norwegian:
barn
Polish:
rodzina
Portuguese (Brazil):
família
Portuguese (Portugal):
família
Romanian:
familie
Russian:
дети
Slovak:
rodina
Slovenian:
družina
Spanish:
familia
Swedish:
familj
Turkish:
aile
family4[ˈfӕməli]noun
a group of plants, animals, languages etc that are connected in some way Example: In spite of its name, a koala bear is not a member of the bear family.
familyAudio Help (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.
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. (SeeLinnean classification.)
Main Entry: fam·i·ly Pronunciation: 'fam-(&-)lE Function: noun Inflected Form: plural-lies 1: the basic unit
in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their own or adopted children; also: any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional
family <a single-parent family> 2: 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 —familyadjective
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
Fa*mil`iar\, a. [OE. familer, familier, F. familier, fr. L. familiaris, fr. familia family. See Family.]1. Of or pertaining to a family; domestic. "Familiar feuds." --Byron. 2. Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures. 3. Characterized by, or exhibiting, the manner of an intimate friend; not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible. "In loose, familiar strains." --Addison. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. --Shak. 4. Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar illustration. That war, or peace, or both at once, may be As things acquainted and familiar to us. --Shak. There is nothing more familiar than this. --Locke. 5. Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate. --Camden. Familiar spirit, a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at call. --1 Sam. xxviii. 3, 7-9.
Fam"i*list\, n. [From Family.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of afanatical Antinomian sect originating in Holland, and existing in England about 1580, called the Family of Love, who held that religion consists wholly in love.
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 ofcurves 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.]
Way\, n. [OE. wey, way, AS. weg; akin to OS., D., OHG., & G. weg, Icel. vegr, Sw. v["a]g, Dan. vei, Goth. wigs, L. via, and AS. wegan to move, L. vehere to carry, Skr. vah. [root]136. Cf. Convex, Inveigh, Vehicle, Vex, Via, Voyage, Wag, Wagon, Wee, Weigh.]1. That by, upon, or along, which one passes or processes; opportunity or room to pass; place of passing; passage; road, street, track, or path of any kind; as, they built a way to the mine. "To find the way to heaven." --Shak. I shall him seek by way and eke by street. --Chaucer. The way seems difficult, and steep to scale. --Milton. The season and ways were very improper for his majesty's forces to march so great a distance. --Evelyn. 2. Length of space; distance; interval; as, a great way; a long way. And whenever the way seemed long, Or his heart began to fail. --Longfellow. 3. A moving; passage; procession; journey. I prythee, now, lead the way. --Shak. 4. Course or direction of motion or process; tendency of action; advance. If that way be your walk, you have not far. --Milton. And let eternal justice take the way. --Dryden. 5. The means by which anything is reached, or anything is accomplished; scheme; device; plan. My best way is to creep under his gaberdine. --Shak. By noble ways we conquest will prepare. --Dryden. What impious ways my wishes took! --Prior. 6. Manner; method; mode; fashion; style; as, the way of expressing one's ideas. 7. Regular course; habitual method of life or action; plan of conduct; mode of dealing. "Having lost the way of nobleness." --Sir. P. Sidney. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. --Prov. iii. 17. When men lived in a grander way. --Longfellow. 8. Sphere or scope of observation. --Jer. Taylor. The public ministers that fell in my way. --Sir W. Temple. 9. Determined course; resolved mode of action or conduct; as, to have one's way. 10. (Naut.) (a) Progress; as, a ship has way. (b) pl. The timbers on which a ship is launched. 11. pl. (Mach.) The longitudinal guides, or guiding surfaces, on the bed of a planer, lathe, or the like, along which a table or carriage moves. 12. (Law) Right of way. See below. By the way, in passing; apropos; aside; apart from, though connected with, the main object or subject of discourse. By way of, for the purpose of; as being; in character of. Covert way. (Fort.) See Covered way, under Covered. In the family way. See under Family. In the way, so as to meet, fall in with, obstruct, hinder, etc. In the way with, traveling or going with; meeting or being with; in the presence of. Milky way. (Astron.) See Galaxy, 1. No way, No ways. See Noway, Noways, in the Vocabulary. On the way, traveling or going; hence, in process; advancing toward completion; as, on the way to this country; on the way to success. Out of the way. See under Out. Right of way (Law), a right of private passage over another's ground. It may arise either by grant or prescription. It may be attached to a house, entry, gate, well, or city lot, as well as to a country farm. --Kent. To be under way, or To have way (Naut.), to be in motion, as when a ship begins to move. To give way. See under Give. To go one's way, or To come one's way, to go or come; to depart or come along. --Shak. To go the way of all the earth, to die. To make one's way, to advance in life by one's personal efforts. To make way. See under Make, v. t. Ways and means. (a) Methods; resources; facilities. (b) (Legislation) Means for raising money; resources for revenue. Way leave, permission to cross, or a right of way across, land; also, rent paid for such right. [Eng] Way of the cross (Eccl.), the course taken in visiting in rotation the stations of the cross. See Station, n., 7 (c) . Way of the rounds (Fort.), a space left for the passage of the rounds between a rampart and the wall of a fortified town. Way pane, a pane for cartage in irrigated land. See Pane, n., 4. [Prov. Eng.] Way passenger, a passenger taken up, or set down, at some intermediate place between the principal stations on a line of travel. Ways of God, his providential government, or his works. Way station, an intermediate station between principal stations on a line of travel, especially on a railroad. Way train, a train which stops at the intermediate, or way, stations; an accommodation train. Way warden, the surveyor of a road. Syn: Street; highway; road. Usage: Way, Street, Highway, Road. Way is generic, denoting any line for passage or conveyance; a highway is literally one raised for the sake of dryness and convenience in traveling; a road is, strictly, a way for horses and carriages; a street is, etymologically, a paved way, as early made in towns and cities; and, hence, the word is distinctively applied to roads or highways in compact settlements. All keep the broad highway, and take delight With many rather for to go astray. --Spenser. There is but one road by which to climb up. --Addison. When night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. --Milton.
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Audio Help [fam-uh-lee, fam-lee] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -lies, adjective 
m
-l
, f
