parent

The word “parent” means a person who raises, cares for, or has legal responsibility for a child. In plain terms, a mother or father who raises a child, or more broadly, the source that something else comes from.

“Parent” is pronounced PEH-uh-ruhnt (/ˈpɛəɹənt/ in IPA).

Here is “parent” used in a sentence: “Both parents attended the school play.”

Depending on how it is used, “parent” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “parent” comes from Latin. From Latin parens, "one who brings forth," the present participle of parere ("to give birth to, produce").

“Parent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Parent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who raises, cares for, or has legal responsibility for a child.

A parent is usually a child's biological or adoptive mother or father. A guardian is anyone given legal responsibility to care for a child, who may or may not be related. Every parent with custody acts as a guardian, but a guardian is not necessarily the child's parent.

Parenthood takes many forms: biological parents, adoptive parents, step-parents, and foster parents. The word covers anyone who raises or is legally responsible for a child, regardless of biology. What unites them is the caring, protecting, and guiding role rather than a single definition.

No. Beyond mothers and fathers, 'parent' is used more widely: a parent company owns other firms, and in biology a parent cell or organism gives rise to offspring. In each case the idea is the same — a source that produces or is responsible for something.

Raising a child day to day: feeding, clothing, keeping them safe, teaching right from wrong, and supporting their education and growth. A parent also holds legal responsibility, making decisions about health, schooling, and welfare until the child becomes an adult.