noun
girl
GURL
noun
1
A female child.
"The girl skipped happily down the street."
"They have two boys and one girl."
2
A young woman, informally.
"She's been best friends with the same girls since school."
3
One's girlfriend.
"He introduced his girl to the whole family."
4
A daughter.
"Their girl just started university."
How to Use Girl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA female child or young woman, or informally, one's girlfriend or daughter.
When to use it
Calling an adult woman a "girl" can read as informal, affectionate, or (depending on context and tone) patronizing — read the room.
Common pairings
little girl
a girl's best friend
girl next door
Word Forms
girled past tense, girls plural, girls singular
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Etymology
From Middle English gerle/girle, once used for a child of either sex, of uncertain deeper origin.