Birth

Etymology

[Middle English, from Old Norse byrth; akin to Old English beran Date: 13th century

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Definitions

• 1 a : the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent

b : the act or process of bringing forth young from the womb

• 2 : a state resulting from being born especially at a particular time or place <a Southerner by birth>
• 3 a : lineage, extraction <marriage between equals in birth>

b : high or noble birth

• 4 a archaic : one that is born

b : beginning, start <the birth of an idea>

Description

Birth (calving in livestock and some other animals, whelping in carnivorous mammals) is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring . The offspring is brought forth from the mother. Different forms of birth are oviparity, vivipary or ovovivipary.

The term birth is used metaphorically to refer to a beginning, especially of a natural phenomenon, one that is impressive in its scope or complexity, or one that is viewed favorably.