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family  - definition and synonyms


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noun family pronunciation in American English /ˈfæm(ə)li/
Word Forms
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  1. 1
    [countable] a group of people who live together and are related to one another, usually consisting of parents and children

    A family with two children lives next door.

    Is the Watson family going to be there?

    He grew up in a large middle-class family.

    single-parent/two-parent family:

    Single-parent families are increasingly common.

    a family of four/five etc.:

    The tent is big enough for a family of six.

    1. a.
      [countable] a group of people who are all related to one another, including dead members of the group

      Does your family have any history of heart disease?

      She did not want the property to go to anyone outside the family.

      be in someone’s/the family (=belong to that family):

      The boatyard had been in his family for four generations.

    2. b.
      [uncountable] people who are related to you

      We spent our vacation visiting family in Scotland.

      We ought to help him, after all, he is family.

      friends and family/family and friends:

      We had Christmas lunch in the company of family and friends.

      one of the family:

      He’s like one of the family.

  2. 2
    [countable] children in a family

    The soldier had a wife and family.

    start/have a family (=have children):

    They want to get married and start a family.

    bring up/raise a family:

    It’s difficult raising a family on one salary.

  3. 3
    [countable] biology a group of animals or plants that are related. A family has fewer members than an order or class

    Kidney beans belong to the bean family.

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