ˈfæmɪlɪ n. (pl. -ies) 1 a set of parents
and children, or of relations,
living together or
not. 2 a
the members of a
household,
esp. parents and
their children. b a person's children. c (attrib.)
serving the
needs of families (family butcher). 3 a
all the descendants of a
common ancestor. b a race or
group of peoples
from a common
stock. 4 all the languages ultimately derived from a
particular early language, regarded as a group. 5 a
brotherhood of persons or nations united by
political or
religious ties. 6 a group of objects
distinguished by common features. 7
Math. a group of curves etc. obtained by varying
one quantity. 8 Biol. a group of
related genera of organisms
within an
order in taxonomic classification. øfamily
allowance Brit. a former
name for child benefit. family
credit (or
income supplement) (in the UK) a
regular payment by the
State to a family
with an income
below a
certain level. Family
Division (in the UK) a division of the
High Court dealing with adoption,
divorce, etc. family
man a man having a
wife and children, esp. one
fond of family
life. family name a
surname. family planning
birth control. family
tree a
chart showing relationships and lines of
descent. in the family
way colloq.
pregnant. [ME f. L familia household f.
famulus servant]