birth

noun, often attributive

\ˈbərth

Definition of birth

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent

b : the act or process of bringing forth young from the womb

2 : a state resulting from being born especially at a particular time or place a Southerner by birth

3a : lineage, extraction

b : high or noble birth

4a archaic : one that is born

b : beginning, start

birth

verb

birthed; birthing; births

Definition of birth (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 chiefly dialectal : to bring forth

2a : to give rise to : originate

b : to give birth to

intransitive verb

: to bring forth or be brought forth as a child or young

birth

adjective

Definition of birth (Entry 3 of 3)

: biological sense 3 his birth mother

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about birth

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Examples of birth in a Sentence

Noun

He was present at the birth of his daughter. The hospital reported an increase in premature births. Please indicate your date of birth. the period from birth to adolescence a disease that is present at birth the birth of the solar system the birth of the blues We are witnessing the birth of a new era.

Verb

back in those days a woman her age would have birthed several children

Adjective

argued that the birth mother had not been informed of all of her options at the time of the adoption

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

If handled from birth, most boa constrictors will remain calm and not dangerous, according to Reptiles. — Lisa Gutierrez, kansascity, "He was trying to go to sleep. Then this monster snake fell out of the ceiling," 12 July 2018 Also that day, a baby contest for children from birth to 36 months old will take place at 10 a.m. in the main tent. — Ginger Brashinger, Daily Southtown, "Proud American Days to close out July with food, fun and entertainment," 11 July 2018 The documentary tracks its subject from birth to death. — Graham Ambrose, BostonGlobe.com, "Darkness and light in Whitney Houston documentary," 4 July 2018 Castle, born two months premature in 1899 in Idaho, was deaf from birth. — Washington Post, "Agreement reached to end children’s book infringement case," 27 June 2018 To participate, children from birth through pre-kindergarten are asked to read or listen to 25 books. — The Aegis, "Harford 'Libraries Rock!' for summer reading," 18 June 2018 However, some kids develop scoliosis from birth or because of other underlying medical conditions that affect the muscles and skeletal bones. — Dr. Carolyn Kienstra And Dr. Alicia Morrisson, miamiherald, "Scoliosis a common condition that could require medical care," 12 June 2018 Drops of water, hours of light, bits of feed, changes in temperature — all are valuable data points that help optimize the cricket life cycle, from birth to cricket flour. — Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, "A New Animal Farm," 12 June 2018 Day in day out, minute after minute, from birth to death, our bodies do the work without ever resting. — Blake Bakkila, Health.com, "This Woman Took Two Different Photos in the Same Outfit to Prove How Deceptive Social Media Is," 12 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

By birthing those wetlands, the company can sell permissions to real-estate developers to destroy other wetlands. — Kevin Spear, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida plan for Lake County sand mine provokes residents' ire," 22 June 2018 When mothers were birthing my generation of boomers, fathers usually spent time pacing the waiting room. — Pat Lenhoff, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Father's Day and childhood memories," 11 June 2018 That new concept, called Ocean 44, is currently being readied for a November opening in Scottsdale, Ariz., where Steak 44 was birthed. (Steak 44 got its name from being on 44th Street in Phoenix. — Greg Morago, Houston Chronicle, "Steak 48 owners plan Houston seafood restaurant," 6 July 2018 Over the years, the city of Chicago has birthed a plethora of hot acts, with the latest being Valee. — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, "Chicago's Valee on Signing to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music Label, Taking Advice From A$AP Rocky & His Love for 2 Chainz," 23 Mar. 2018 Hospital offers birthing center tour St. Catherine Hospital will host a free tour of their birthing center at 10 a.m. Saturday at 4320 Fir St., East Chicago. — Staff Report, Post-Tribune, "Community news," 27 June 2018 The launch angle revolution has birthed the career revolutions of Justin Turner, Chris Taylor and Josh Donaldson … but Gennett might be the best example of what a swing change can do. — Si.com Staff, SI.com, "Nine Innings: Three Players Limiting the Cubs, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s Eruption and Ohtani's Filthy Splitter," 29 May 2018 Restaurant blogs, the Food Network and magazines like Bon Appetit have birthed the concept of the chef as celebrity. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "Goodbye Crocs, Hello Gucci: How Chefs Became Style Icons," 30 Apr. 2018 On Saturday night, a fight birthed rumors of a shooting and caused the mall to evacuate and go on lockdown. — Monique O. Madan, miamiherald, "Report of shots fired at a Florida mall was actually fireworks in a burglary scheme | Miami Herald," 8 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'birth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near birth

birth/biological parent

birth canal

birth certificate

Phrases Related to birth

birth/biological parent

date of birth

live birth

multiple birth

Statistics for birth

Last Updated

12 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for birth

The first known use of birth was in the 13th century

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More Definitions for birth

birth

noun

English Language Learners Definition of birth

: the time when a baby comes out from the body of its mother

: the beginning or origin of something

—used to describe the kind of family a person comes from

See the full definition for birth in the English Language Learners Dictionary

birth

noun

\ˈbərth

Kids Definition of birth

1 : the coming of a new individual from the body of its parent

2 : the act of bringing into life

3 : lineage sense 1 a person of noble birth

4 : origin sense 3 the birth of a star

birth

noun

\ˈbərth

Medical Definition of birth

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent

2 : the act or process of bringing forth young from the womb

birth

transitive verb

Medical Definition of birth (Entry 2 of 3)

: to give birth to allowed to birth her child in her own way— Nancy Robinson

intransitive verb

: to bring forth or be brought forth as a child or young contend that birthing is a natural process, rather than a medical procedure— Kit Miniclier the baby birthed breech— Jayne Anne Phillips