Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: cild

child

 noun
     
child
NEW! See related topics: CHILDREN
child S1 W1 plural children [countable]
1

young person

someone who is not yet an adult [= kid]:
The hotel is ideal for families with young children.
Your interest and support are important to your child.
The film is not suitable for children under 12.
I was very happy as a child (=when I was a child).
three-year-old child/child of eight etc
For a child of five this was a terrifying experience.
parents with pre-school children (=children who are too young to go to school)
an agreement to regulate child labour (=the use of children in industry)
child killer/victim/prostitute etc (=a child who is a killer etc)
the rights of the unborn child (=a baby that is still inside its mother)
2

son/daughter

a son or daughter of any age:
I have five children, all happily married.
She lives with her husband, Paul, and three grown-up children.
Annie had always wanted to get married and have children.
Alex is an only child (=he has no brothers or sisters).
youngest/eldest child especially British English
Our youngest child, Sam, has just started university.
youngest/middle/oldest child especially American English
3

somebody influenced by an idea

someone who is very strongly influenced by the ideas and attitudes of a particular period of history
child of
a real child of the Sixties
4

somebody who is like a child

someone who behaves like a child and is not sensible or responsible - used to show disapproval:
5

something is child's play

used to say that something is very easy to do:
I've cooked for 200 people before now. So, tonight is child's play by comparison.
6

children should be seen and not heard

an expression meaning that children should be quiet and not talk - used when you disapprove of the way a child is behaving
7

be with child

old use to be pregnant
8

be heavy/great with child

old use to be nearly ready to give birth
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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