give birth to

- 7 dictionary results

birth

[burth]

–noun

1.	an act or instance of being born: the day of his birth.

2.	the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring; childbirth; parturition: a difficult birth.

3.	lineage; extraction; descent: of Grecian birth.

4.	high or noble lineage: to be foolishly vain about one's birth.

5.	natural heritage: a musician by birth.

6.	any coming into existence; origin; beginning: the birth of Protestantism; the birth of an idea.

7.	Archaic. something that is born.

–verb (used with object) Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.

8.	to give birth to.

9.	to assist in giving birth; act as midwife for.

—Idiom

10.

give birth to,

a.	to bear (a child).

b.	to initiate; originate: Her hobby gave birth to a successful business.

Origin:
1150–1200; ME byrthe < Scand; cf. OSw byrth; c. OE gebyrd, OHG giburt, Goth gabaurths

Synonyms:
3. parentage, ancestry, line, blood, family, race. 6. start, commencement, inception, genesis; launching, inauguration.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To give birth to

Teen Pregnancy
What Is The Responsible Way To Prepare and Educate Our Youth?

www.ResponsibilityProject.com

Giving Birth Video
Watch videos on labor, delivery, and Giving Birth Video.

Pregnancy.Healthguru.com

give (gĭv)

v. gave (gāv), giv·en (gĭv'ən), giv·ing, gives

v. tr.

To make a present of: We gave her flowers for her birthday.
To place in the hands of; pass: Give me the scissors.
1. To deliver in exchange or recompense; pay: gave five dollars for the book.
2. To let go for a price; sell: gave the used car away for two thousand dollars.
3. To administer: give him some cough medicine.
4. To convey by a physical action: gave me a punch in the nose.
5. To inflict as punishment: gave the child a spanking; was given life imprisonment for the crime.
6. Law To accord by verdict: A decision was given for the plaintiff.
7. To bestow, especially officially; confer: The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech.
8. To accord or tender to another: Give him your confidence.
9. To put temporarily at the disposal of: gave them the cottage for a week.
10. To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason: gave me the keys for safekeeping.
11. To convey or offer for conveyance: Give him my best wishes.
12. Law To execute and deliver. Used especially in the phrase give bond.
13. To endure the loss of; sacrifice: gave her son to the war; gave her life for her country.
14. To devote or apply completely: gives herself to her work.
15. To furnish or contribute: gave their time to help others.
16. To offer in good faith; pledge: Give me your word.
17. To allot as a portion or share.
18. To bestow (a name, for example).
19. To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.
20. To award as due: gave us first prize.
21. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand.
22. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man.
23. To perform for an audience: give a recital.
24. To present to view: gave the sign to begin.
25. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party.
26. To propose as a toast.
27. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
28. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
29. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
30. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
31. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
32. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
33. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
34. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To administer: give him some cough medicine.
2. To convey by a physical action: gave me a punch in the nose.
3. To inflict as punishment: gave the child a spanking; was given life imprisonment for the crime.
4. Law To accord by verdict: A decision was given for the plaintiff.
5. To bestow, especially officially; confer: The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech.
6. To accord or tender to another: Give him your confidence.
7. To put temporarily at the disposal of: gave them the cottage for a week.
8. To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason: gave me the keys for safekeeping.
9. To convey or offer for conveyance: Give him my best wishes.
10. Law To execute and deliver. Used especially in the phrase give bond.
11. To endure the loss of; sacrifice: gave her son to the war; gave her life for her country.
12. To devote or apply completely: gives herself to her work.
13. To furnish or contribute: gave their time to help others.
14. To offer in good faith; pledge: Give me your word.
15. To allot as a portion or share.
16. To bestow (a name, for example).
17. To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.
18. To award as due: gave us first prize.
19. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand.
20. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man.
21. To perform for an audience: give a recital.
22. To present to view: gave the sign to begin.
23. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party.
24. To propose as a toast.
25. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
26. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
27. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
28. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
29. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
30. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
31. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
32. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To bestow, especially officially; confer: The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech.
2. To accord or tender to another: Give him your confidence.
3. To put temporarily at the disposal of: gave them the cottage for a week.
4. To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason: gave me the keys for safekeeping.
5. To convey or offer for conveyance: Give him my best wishes.
6. Law To execute and deliver. Used especially in the phrase give bond.
7. To endure the loss of; sacrifice: gave her son to the war; gave her life for her country.
8. To devote or apply completely: gives herself to her work.
9. To furnish or contribute: gave their time to help others.
10. To offer in good faith; pledge: Give me your word.
11. To allot as a portion or share.
12. To bestow (a name, for example).
13. To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.
14. To award as due: gave us first prize.
15. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand.
16. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man.
17. To perform for an audience: give a recital.
18. To present to view: gave the sign to begin.
19. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party.
20. To propose as a toast.
21. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
22. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
23. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
24. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
25. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
26. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
27. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
28. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To endure the loss of; sacrifice: gave her son to the war; gave her life for her country.
2. To devote or apply completely: gives herself to her work.
3. To furnish or contribute: gave their time to help others.
4. To offer in good faith; pledge: Give me your word.
5. To allot as a portion or share.
6. To bestow (a name, for example).
7. To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.
8. To award as due: gave us first prize.
9. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand.
10. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man.
11. To perform for an audience: give a recital.
12. To present to view: gave the sign to begin.
13. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party.
14. To propose as a toast.
15. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
16. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
17. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
18. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
19. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
20. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
21. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
22. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To allot as a portion or share.
2. To bestow (a name, for example).
3. To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.
4. To award as due: gave us first prize.
5. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand.
6. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man.
7. To perform for an audience: give a recital.
8. To present to view: gave the sign to begin.
9. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party.
10. To propose as a toast.
11. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
12. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
13. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
14. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
15. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
16. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
17. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
18. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
To emit or utter: gave a groan; gave a muted response.
To submit for consideration, acceptance, or use: give an opinion; give an excuse.
1. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand.
2. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man.
3. To perform for an audience: give a recital.
4. To present to view: gave the sign to begin.
5. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party.
6. To propose as a toast.
7. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
8. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
9. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
10. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
11. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
12. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
13. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
14. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To perform for an audience: give a recital.
2. To present to view: gave the sign to begin.
3. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party.
4. To propose as a toast.
5. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
6. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
7. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
8. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
9. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
10. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
11. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
12. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party.
2. To propose as a toast.
3. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
4. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
5. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
6. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
7. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
8. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
9. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
10. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
2. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold.
3. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
4. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
5. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
6. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
7. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
8. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To yield or produce: Cows give milk.
2. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit.
3. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60.
4. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
5. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
1. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering.
2. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start.
To permit one to have or take: gave us an hour to finish.
To take an interest to the extent of: "My dear, I don't give a damn" (Margaret Mitchell).

v. intr.

To make gifts or donations: gives generously to charity.
1. To yield to physical force.
2. To collapse from force or pressure: The roof gave under the weight of the snow.
3. To yield to change: Both sides will have to give on some issues.
To afford access or a view; open: The doors give onto a terrace.
Slang To be in progress; happen: What gives?

Capacity or inclination to yield under pressure.
The quality or condition of resilience; springiness: "Fruits that have some give ... will have more juice than hard ones" (Elizabeth Schneider).
To make a gift of.
To present (a bride) to the bridegroom at a wedding ceremony.
1. To reveal or make known, often accidentally.
2. To betray.
3. To devote to a particular purpose or use: gave the day over to merrymaking.
4. To surrender (oneself) completely; abandon: finally gave myself over to grief.
5. To surrender: The suspects gave themselves up.
6. To devote (oneself) completely: gave herself up to her work.
7. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search.
8. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking.
9. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost.
10. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago.
To hand in; submit: She gave in her report.
To cease opposition; yield.
To allow to be known; declare publicly: gave out the bad news.
To send forth; emit: gave out a steady buzzing.
To distribute: gave out the surplus food.
To stop functioning; fail.
To become used up or exhausted; run out: Their determination finally gave out.
To hand over; entrust.
1. To devote to a particular purpose or use: gave the day over to merrymaking.
2. To surrender (oneself) completely; abandon: finally gave myself over to grief.
3. To surrender: The suspects gave themselves up.
4. To devote (oneself) completely: gave herself up to her work.
5. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search.
6. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking.
7. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost.
8. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago.
To cause an activity to stop: ordered the combatants to give over.
1. To surrender: The suspects gave themselves up.
2. To devote (oneself) completely: gave herself up to her work.
3. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search.
4. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking.
5. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost.
6. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago.
1. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search.
2. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking.
3. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost.
4. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago.
To part with; relinquish: gave up the apartment; gave up all hope.
1. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost.
2. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago.
To admit defeat.
To abandon what one is doing or planning to do: gave up on writing the novel.

Phrasal Verb(s):
give away

To make a gift of.
To present (a bride) to the bridegroom at a wedding ceremony.
1. To reveal or make known, often accidentally.
2. To betray.

give backTo return: gave me back my book.
give in

To hand in; submit: She gave in her report.
To cease opposition; yield.

give ofTo devote or contribute: She really gave of her time to help. They give of themselves to improve the quality of education.
give offTo send forth; emit: chemical changes that give off energy.
give out

To allow to be known; declare publicly: gave out the bad news.
To send forth; emit: gave out a steady buzzing.
To distribute: gave out the surplus food.
To stop functioning; fail.
To become used up or exhausted; run out: Their determination finally gave out.

give over

To hand over; entrust.
1. To devote to a particular purpose or use: gave the day over to merrymaking.
2. To surrender (oneself) completely; abandon: finally gave myself over to grief.
To cause an activity to stop: ordered the combatants to give over.

give up

1. To surrender: The suspects gave themselves up.
2. To devote (oneself) completely: gave herself up to her work.
3. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search.
4. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking.
5. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost.
6. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago.
1. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search.
2. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking.
3. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost.
4. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago.
To part with; relinquish: gave up the apartment; gave up all hope.
1. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost.
2. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago.
To admit defeat.
To abandon what one is doing or planning to do: gave up on writing the novel.

Idiom(s):
give a good account of (oneself)To behave or perform creditably.

Idiom(s):
give birth to

To bear as offspring.
To be the origin of: a hobby that gave birth to a successful business.

Idiom(s):
give groundTo yield to a more powerful force; retreat.

Idiom(s):
give it to Informal To punish or reprimand severely: My parents really gave it to me for coming in late.

Idiom(s):
give or takePlus or minus a small specified amount: The chalet is close to the road, give or take a few hundred yards.

Idiom(s):
give rise toTo be the cause or origin of; bring about.

Idiom(s):
give (someone) a hard time

To make life difficult for; harass.
To make fun of; tease.

Idiom(s):
give (someone) the eyeTo look at admiringly or invitingly.

Idiom(s):
give the lie to

To show to be inaccurate or untrue.
To accuse of lying.

Idiom(s):
give up the ghostTo cease living or functioning; die.

Idiom(s):
give way

1. To retreat or withdraw.
2. To yield the right of way: gave way to an oncoming car.
3. To relinquish ascendancy or position: as day gives way slowly to night.
4. To collapse from or as if from physical pressure: The ladder gave way.
5. To yield to urging or demand; give in.
1. To collapse from or as if from physical pressure: The ladder gave way.
2. To yield to urging or demand; give in.
To abandon oneself: give way to hysteria.

[Middle English given, from Old English giefan and Old Norse gefa; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Word Origin & History

birth

c.1230, from O.N. *byrðr, which replaced O.E. gebyrd "birth," from P.Gmc. *gaburthis (cf. Ger. geburt, Goth. gabaurþs), from PIE *bhrto pp. of base *bher- "to bear" (cf. Skt. bhrtih "a bringing, maintenance," L. fors, gen. fortis "chance;" see bear (v.)). Suffix -th is for "process" (as in bath, death). Meaning "parentage, lineage, extraction" is from c.1240. Birthday is c.1000; birthnight is 1628; birthplace is from 1607; birthright is 1535. Birth control first attested 1914. Birthday suit first attested 1730s, but probably much older.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ³birth
Function: adjective
: BIOLOGICAL 3 birth parents>

Medical Dictionary

birth (bûrth)
n.

The emergence and separation of offspring from the body of the mother.
The act or process of bearing young; parturition.
The circumstances or conditions relating to this event, as its time or location.
The set of characteristics or circumstances received from one's ancestors; inheritance.
Origin; extraction.

Science Dictionary

birth   (bûrth) Pronunciation Key
Noun   The emergence and separation of offspring from the body of its mother, seen in all mammals except monotremes.

Adjective   Present at birth, as a defect in a bodily structure.

Idioms & Phrases

give birth to

Bear a child, as in She gave birth to her first child exactly at midnight. [Early 1800s]
Also, give rise to. Be the cause or origin of. For example, His hobby gave birth to a very successful business, or The economic situation gave rise to widespread dissatisfaction. The first term dates from the early 1700s, the second from the late 1700s.

Search another word or see give birth to on Thesaurus | Reference

Giving Birth Video
BabyCenter now has videos. Watch Free childbirth video clips & more.

www.babycenter.com

Labor and Delivery Info
Prepare For The Big Day With Expert Info on Labor and Delivery.

Gerber.com

Giving Birth
Parents® Guide To Childbirth Get Expert Info - Learn More Now

www.Parents.com

»Podcast
»School gear

»Style guide
»Literary terms

Facebook TwitterFollow us:

About
·
Privacy Policy
·
Terms of Use
·
Careers
·
Advertise with Us
·
Link to Us
·
Contact Us

Partner Sites:

Ask Answers Evite Expedia Hotels Hotwire Life123 LiveDaily My Way