family

fam•i•ly

[[t]ˈfæm ə li, ˈfæm li[/t]] n. pl. -lies, adj.

1) parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not

2) the children of one person or one couple collectively

3) use the spouse and children of one person

4) any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins

5) all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor

6) a group of persons who form a household, esp. under one head

7) the staff, or body of assistants, of an official:

the presidential family[/ex]

8) a group of related things:

the halogen family of elements[/ex]

9) a group of people who are generally not blood relations but who share common attitudes, interests, or goals

10) bio Biol. the usual major subdivision of an order or suborder in the classification of plants, animals, fungi, etc., usu. consisting of several genera

11) ling. Ling. the largest category into which languages related by common origin can be classified with certainty

Compare stock 12),subfamily 2)

12) soc a local unit of the Mafia or Cosa Nostra

13) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a family:

a family trait[/ex]

14) belonging to or used by a family

15) cvb

a) suitable or appropriate for adults and children:

a family amusement park[/ex]

b) not containing obscene language:

a family newspaper[/ex]

•

- in a or the family way

Etymology: 1350–1400; ME familie < L familia usage: See collective noun