bə:θ n. & v. --n. 1
the emergence of a (usu.
fully developed)
infant or
other young from the
body of
its mother. 2 rhet. the
beginning or
coming into existence of
something (the birth of
civilization; the birth of socialism). 3 a
origin,
descent,
ancestry (of
noble birth). b
high or noble birth; inherited
position. --v.tr. US colloq. 1 to
give birth
to. 2 to
assist (a woman) to give birth. øbirth
certificate an
official document identifying a
person by
name,
place, date of birth,
and parentage. birth
control the control of the
number of
children one conceives,
esp. by
contraception. birth
pill the
contraceptive pill. birth rate the number of live births
per thousand of
population per
year. give birth bear a
child etc. give birth to 1
produce (young) from the
womb. 2
cause to
begin, found. [ME f. ON byrth f. Gmc: see
BEAR(1), -TH(2)]