noun
childhood
CHYLD-huud
noun
1
The period of a person's life from birth to the onset of adolescence.
"She spent her childhood in a small coastal town."
"Many of his fears trace back to a difficult childhood."
How to Use Childhood
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe years of being a child, before you grow into a teenager or adult.
Common pairings
happy childhood
childhood memories
early childhood
Word Forms
childhoods plural
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She spent her _____ in a small coastal town.
Etymology
From Old English ċildhād, formed from "child" plus the suffix -hood, which marks a state or condition.