kitten
KIH-tuhn
Kitten (noun) means a young cat. Example: “The kitten batted at a ball of yarn across the floor.”
noun
1
A young cat.
"The kitten batted at a ball of yarn across the floor."
"They adopted two kittens from the same litter."
"Our neighbour's kitten climbed the curtains and refused to come down."
verb
1
To give birth to kittens.
"The stray cat kittened under the porch last spring."
"Their cat kittened in the airing cupboard during the night."
"When the farm cat kittens, the children are not allowed to touch them."
How to use kitten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA baby cat, or (as a verb, less common) to give birth to kittens.
Common pairings
a litter of kittens
have kittens
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Word forms
- Plural
- kittens
- Third person singular
- kittens
- Past tense
- kittened
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The _____ batted at a ball of yarn across the floor.
Etymology
From a Middle English word for kitten, most likely borrowed through Anglo-Norman French from a diminutive form of "cat" — the same pattern that gave French its word chaton.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for kitten
See all rhymes for kitten →Frequently asked questions
What does “kitten” mean?
The word “kitten” means a young cat. In plain terms, a baby cat, or (as a verb, less common) to give birth to kittens.
How do you pronounce “kitten”?
“Kitten” is pronounced KIH-tuhn (/ˈkɪtən̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “kitten” in a sentence?
Here is “kitten” used in a sentence: “The kitten batted at a ball of yarn across the floor.”
What part of speech is “kitten”?
Depending on how it is used, “kitten” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “kitten” come from?
The word “kitten” comes from French. From a Middle English word for kitten, most likely borrowed through Anglo-Norman French from a diminutive form of "cat" — the same pattern that gave French its word chaton.
Is “kitten” a common word?
“Kitten” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “kitten” have?
“Kitten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young cat.
What is the difference between a "kitten" and a "cat"?
A kitten is specifically a young cat, while "cat" refers to the animal at any age, including fully grown adults. Every kitten is a cat, but not every cat is a kitten.
At what point does a kitten become a cat?
Kittens are generally considered to have grown into adult cats by around one year old, though the exact timing can vary somewhat by breed and size.
What does it mean when a cat is said to "kitten"?
When a cat "kittens," it means she gives birth to kittens; the word functions as a verb in this context.
Is "kitten" ever used for the young of other animals?
No, "kitten" specifically refers to young cats. The young of other animals have their own dedicated words, such as puppy for dogs or cub for lions.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing kitten in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Naming a kitten early matters less than people think — cats learn a name through repetition and association, not from hearing it once.
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