father1 nounfather2 verb
fatherfa‧ther1 /ˈfɑːðə $ -ər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINfather1
Origin:
Old English fæderEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He's now the proud father of a three week old baby girl.
- Larry Blake, a father of three children, was shot dead outside his home last night.
- My father's a doctor.
- Pianto has been working with his father for 21 years.
- Agnes, do not fight your father over this money.
- His father emphasized strenuous effort to achieve goals and total obedience to those in authority, and he ranted about corrupt politicians.
- In 1969 there were three generations of the Holmes family taking part, father, son and grandson.
- Jerome pocketed the smokes from his father.
- My respects to you, and my father.
- Now that my father is dead, I must be old Mr Scott, Adam wanted to tell him.
- When his father died, Marshall ventured with two partners into yarn manufacture by the new process of spinning flax by machinery.
THESAURUS
a male parent: · My father’s a doctor.· He’s a father of three.
informal used when talking to your father, or about someone’s father: · Can I borrow your car, Dad?· Her dad retired ten years ago.· My dad was in the army.
a name for father, which is used especially by young children or when you are talking to young children: · Where’s your daddy?· Daddy, can I have a drink, please?
American English informal (also pa old-fashioned) used when talking to your father, or about someone’s father: · I helped Pop fix the gate this morning.· Can I help, Pa?· He is in New York with his Pop’s credit card, eating all the ice cream and pizza the city has to offer.
old-fashioned informal used when talking to your father, or about someone’s father: · Papa had forbidden me to go.· She saw her papa’s face change at this news.
informal someone’s father – used when talking about him in a way that is not very respectful: · His old man wouldn’t let him use the car.
(also stepdad informal) a man who is married to your mother, who is not your father but often acts as your parent: · Her stepfather is really nice.
Longman Language Activatorfather · My father's a doctor.father of · He's now the proud father of a three-week-old baby girl.· Larry Blake, a father of three children, was shot dead outside his home last night.
informal a name you use to talk to your father or to talk about someone else's father: · Was your dad angry when you got home?· Can I borrow your car, Dad?· My dad retired ten years ago.
a name for a father - used especially by young children or when you are talking to young children: · Where's your daddy?· Daddy, can I have a drink, please?· Go and ask Daddy if he'll give you a ride to school.
American informal a name you call your father: · I helped Pop fix the gate this morning.· Relax, Pop, I'll have the car back by midnight.
informal father - use this to talk about your father or someone else's father: · My old man never could understand why I married Doris.the old man (=my father): · I'm going to visit the old man next week.
when someone is a father · Jerry doesn't take the responsibilities of fatherhood very seriously.· Fatherhood has been the greatest challenge of my life.
if a man becomes a father , a woman has his baby: · I didn't really care about what was going on in the world until I became a father.· Just think about it - you don't really want to become a father while you're still in your teens, do you?
written if a man fathers a child, a woman has his baby: · He fathered eight daughters and three sons.· Bill was told he would never be able to father children.
like a father paternal feelings are like the feelings that a good father has for his children: · Although he had no children of his own, he took a kind of paternal interest in Katie's progress at school.
behaving in a kind way towards someone who is younger than you, which shows you care about them a lot, as if you were their father: · Do you mind if I give you some fatherly advice?· From the plane window he could still see the two young women, and gave them a fatherly wave.
someone who invents something someone who has invented something, or whose job is to invent things, especially machines: · Franklin was a scientist, an inventor, and a statesman.· Marconi was the inventor of radio.· The patent lists six inventors who worked on the system.
the writer, artist, or designer who first produced a well-known story, character, fashion etc: creator of: · Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse· Diaghilev is considered by many to be the creator of the first modern dance company.
the person who first invented something, especially an idea: originator of: · Stokely Carmichael was probably the originator of the term "black power."· Alberti was the originator of the violin's design even though Stradivari made it famous.
the man who first invented a new way of thinking or a new area of study, or who first tried new methods, practices etc: · Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, was born in 1856.· Lowe was the real father of modern computing and a very important figure in IBM's ranks.
WORD SETSbaby, nounbarrier method, nounbetrothal, nounboy, nounBr., branch, nouncontraception, nouncousin, noundescendant, noundescent, noundistant, adjectivedivorce, noundivorce, verbdivorced, adjectivedivorcée, noundomestic, adjectivedowry, noundynasty, nounex, nounextended family, nounfamilial, adjectivefamily man, nounfamily planning, nounfamily tree, nounfather, nounfather-in-law, nounfiancé, nounfiancée, nounfilial, adjectivefirst cousin, noungodchild, noungoddaughter, noungrandad, noungrandaddy, noungrandchild, noungranddad, noungranddaddy, noungranddaughter, noungrandfather, noungrandma, noungrandmother, noungrandpa, noungrandparent, noungrandson, noungranny, nounhalf-brother, nounhalf-sister, nounhereditary, adjectivehouse husband, nounin-laws, nounintermarry, verbmaiden aunt, nounmaid of honour, nounmam, nounmama, nounmamma, nounmammy, nounman, nounmarital, adjectivematrimony, nounmiscegenation, nounmixed marriage, nounmonogamy, nounnuclear family, nounoedipal, adjectiveOedipus complex, nounone-parent family, nounparent, nounparentage, nounparental, adjectiveparenthood, nounparenting, nounpaternity, nounpaternity suit, nounpatriarch, nounpatriarchy, nounpedigree, nounpolygamy, nounpropinquity, nounproposal, nounrelative, nounscion, nounseparate, verbseparated, adjectiveseparation, nounsibling, nounsingle parent, nounsister, nounsister-in-law, nounstepbrother, nounstepchild, nounstepdaughter, nounstepfather, nounstepmother, nounstepsister, nounstepson, noununcle, noununion, noununmarried, adjectiveupbringing, nounwedding, nounwedlock, nounwhite wedding, nounwidow, nounwidower, nounwidowhood, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
our Heavenly FatherCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES plans to force absent fathers to pay child maintenance William was acting as a surrogate father for his brother’s son.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
(=a man with two, three etc children) The driver, a father of four, escaped uninjured.
The driver, a father of four, escaped uninjured. our Heavenly Father plans to force absent fathers to pay child maintenance (=used when you think that someone is much too old to be having a relationship with another person)· Why would she want to go out with someone who was old enough to be her father?
· Mark is the proud father of a three-week-old baby boy.
William was acting as a surrogate father for his brother’s son.· His surrogate father figure was killed.· With Diana out of the picture, Charles is emerging as a fitting father figure.· Sondheim found a mentor, if not a father figure, in Hammerstein, Patinkin said.· They, or rather Morrissey, thinks he's all wise and a sort of father figure.· And one of the sturdiest of these is the father figure in the sky.· Tiriac became a father figure and Nastase was at least able to fulfil some of his potential.· Prior to 1916 Paul-Yves's life was anchored by the rock-like presence of a reassuring father figure, dominant, capable, sure.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► like father like son► a bit of how’s your father► FatherPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► noncustodial parent/father/mother
1parent a male parent: - Land passes from father to son: his is split between himself and his father.
- The bone-setting power is often handed down from father to son.
- The centuries' old recipe has been handed down from father to son.
- The eyes of those in the room shifted uneasily from father to son.
- The whole gentile constitution made the transference of private property from father to son impossible.
- Their status was hereditary, land and titles being passed on from father to son.
- This means that harem females are being passed down from father to son in a patrilineal fashion.
- Have you met Father Simmons?
- Heavenly Father, please forgive us our sins.
- Our fathers came to a new country with new hope.
- George Washington is the father of our country.
- Lowe was the real father of modern computing and a very important figure in IBM's ranks.
- Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, was born in 1856.
- At another, he deals badly with his role as the father of a deaf son.
- He gently and rather apologetically wrote and sent to the father of the student the two letters of which complaint is made.
- If I hadn't run away and made good, you'd never have been the father of Lady Firth.
- In their world it is not the father of the bride who digs into his pocket to pay for the wedding.
- Tests to ascertain the father of the child.
- Adopted children and their biological parents may suffer stress long after the adoption. 4.
- It's now estimated that by 2010, children in stepfamilies will actually outnumber those living with two biological parents.
- Most of the debate was really about an alleged universality of the nuclear family of married biological parents and their legitimate children.
- My biological father is diagnosed as paranoid / schizophrenic.
- Or now, when they swear their biological father forced them to make the whole story up?
- Steven Lowe, Liverpool Who would be the biological parents of a human clone, and what legal ramifications would this have?
- The hearing would decide whether the state should terminate the rights of the biological parents and put the child up for adoption.
- The two candidates for the role of biological father were both Black Panthers.
- Everyone treats me with the temerity usually afforded to expectant fathers and potential Messiahs.
- A young girl needs a strong mother figure.
- And he registers genuine hurt at the fact that Buzzy regards Buck as more of a father figure than himself.
- As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses.
- Disrespect the authority figure out there on the field and then wonder why the kids do it in their classrooms.
- Eventually Daley made the remarkable transition from political boss to father figure.
- He spoke seldom, but he was never impatient with her, always kind, a companionable father figure.
- It would seem that we are far more likely to obey unquestioningly when the authority figure is actually present.
- One wonders what is the unspoken view of the other authority figures involved in setting this up?
- By then, the girl had been put into the temporary care of foster parents by Wirral Council.
- His foster parents say they're giving him a break from events back home.
- News of the deal caused outrage in Britain, and Flintshire social services placed the girls with foster parents.
- On that occasion, they returned to Berkeley with a coachload of other would-be foster parents empty-handed.
- Richard had been passed from one set of foster parents to another until he was ten.
- The children went into voluntary care in June 1991 and were placed together with foster parents.
- The girl, who was with foster parents, wanted her family re-united.
- The sisters were separated, Lore working as a maid and the others going to foster parents.
- More than half of lone parents with two or more children had incomes below their absolute poverty level at £227 a week.
- One Parent Benefit is paid to 75% of lone parents.
- Sheila is a lone parent with two children, aged 13 and 15.
- Two thirds of lone parent families depend mainly on social security benefits, compared with one in eight two parent families.
- We can treat lone parents as poor people, needing means-tested social assistance of some sort - as we do now.
Ask your father to help you. Andrew was very excited about becoming a father. He’s been like a father to me.a father of two/three/four etc (=a man with two, three etc children) The driver, a father of four, escaped uninjured. Steve recently became the proud father of a 7lb 12oz baby girl.2priest Father a priest, especially in the Roman Catholic Church: I have sinned, Father. Father Devlin → Holy Father3fathers [plural] people related to you who lived a long time ago SYN ancestors: Our fathers were exiles from their native land. → forefather4god Father a way of talking to or talking about God, used in the Christian religion: our Heavenly Father5the father of something the man who was responsible for starting something: Freud is the father of psychoanalysis.6from father to son if property or skill passes from father to son, children receive it or learn it from their parents: This is a district where old crafts are handed down from father to son.7like father like son used to say that a boy behaves like his father, especially when this behaviour is bad8a bit of how’s your father British English informal the act of having sex – used humorously → city fathers, founding fatherTHESAURUSfather a male parent: · My father’s a doctor.· He’s a father of three.dad informal used when talking to your father, or about someone’s father: · Can I borrow your car, Dad?· Her dad retired ten years ago.· My dad was in the army.daddy a name for father, which is used especially by young children or when you are talking to young children: · Where’s your daddy?· Daddy, can I have a drink, please?pop American English informal (also pa old-fashioned) used when talking to your father, or about someone’s father: · I helped Pop fix the gate this morning.· Can I help, Pa?· He is in New York with his Pop’s credit card, eating all the ice cream and pizza the city has to offer.papa old-fashioned informal used when talking to your father, or about someone’s father: · Papa had forbidden me to go.· She saw her papa’s face change at this news.somebody’s old man informal someone’s father – used when talking about him in a way that is not very respectful: · His old man wouldn’t let him use the car.stepfather (also stepdad informal) a man who is married to your mother, who is not your father but often acts as your parent: · Her stepfather is really nice.father1 nounfather2 verb
fatherfather2 verb [transitive] VERB TABLE
father
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | father |
| he, she, it | fathers | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | fathered |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have fathered |
| he, she, it | has fathered | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had fathered |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will father |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have fathered |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Bill was told he would never be able to father children.
- He fathered eight daughters and three sons.
- Roosevelt fathered the concept of Social Security.
- Taylor denies fathering her 4-month-old son.
- All the portraits in this book show men who father from the heart, but none more than this one.
- An apparent suicide note found in the house on the day she died claimed the child had been fathered by another man.
- Elephant seals are so severely sieved that in each generation a handful of males father all the offspring.
- He fathered nine children with four women and the unpaid amounts totaled $ 25,000.
- I do not know how I can have fathered such children.
- In other versions, Zeus rapes Demeter and fathers Persephone.
- Unfortunately, Edison was not himself a musician, and the technology he fathered was never used for mass-producing serious musical records.
Longman Language Activatorfather
· My father's a doctor.father of · He's now the proud father of a three-week-old baby girl.· Larry Blake, a father of three children, was shot dead outside his home last night.
informal a name you use to talk to your father or to talk about someone else's father: · Was your dad angry when you got home?· Can I borrow your car, Dad?· My dad retired ten years ago.
a name for a father - used especially by young children or when you are talking to young children: · Where's your daddy?· Daddy, can I have a drink, please?· Go and ask Daddy if he'll give you a ride to school.
American informal a name you call your father: · I helped Pop fix the gate this morning.· Relax, Pop, I'll have the car back by midnight.
informal father - use this to talk about your father or someone else's father: · My old man never could understand why I married Doris.the old man (=my father): · I'm going to visit the old man next week.
when someone is a father · Jerry doesn't take the responsibilities of fatherhood very seriously.· Fatherhood has been the greatest challenge of my life.
if a man becomes a father , a woman has his baby: · I didn't really care about what was going on in the world until I became a father.· Just think about it - you don't really want to become a father while you're still in your teens, do you?
written if a man fathers a child, a woman has his baby: · He fathered eight daughters and three sons.· Bill was told he would never be able to father children.
like a father paternal feelings are like the feelings that a good father has for his children: · Although he had no children of his own, he took a kind of paternal interest in Katie's progress at school.
behaving in a kind way towards someone who is younger than you, which shows you care about them a lot, as if you were their father: · Do you mind if I give you some fatherly advice?· From the plane window he could still see the two young women, and gave them a fatherly wave.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES plans to force absent fathers to pay child maintenance William was acting as a surrogate father for his brother’s son.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
plans to force absent fathers to pay child maintenance (=used when you think that someone is much too old to be having a relationship with another person)· Why would she want to go out with someone who was old enough to be her father?
· Mark is the proud father of a three-week-old baby boy.
William was acting as a surrogate father for his brother’s son.· Tests had proved that he could never father a child.· The court also ruled that no public policy bars men from fathering children posthumously.· So Edwin Garland had almost certainly been incapable of fathering a child.· Men separated from their women father illegitimate children.· I do not know how I can have fathered such children.· Having already fathered two children, he had only reluctantly agreed to have an-other child.· Half the pregnant women on the estate would be swearing I fathered their children.· Married Princess Beatrice; fathered ten children.
· There is the Brooklyn Bridge, and next to it the two Roeblings, father and son.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► noncustodial parent/father/mother
1to become the father of a child by making a woman pregnant: - Adopted children and their biological parents may suffer stress long after the adoption. 4.
- It's now estimated that by 2010, children in stepfamilies will actually outnumber those living with two biological parents.
- Most of the debate was really about an alleged universality of the nuclear family of married biological parents and their legitimate children.
- My biological father is diagnosed as paranoid / schizophrenic.
- Or now, when they swear their biological father forced them to make the whole story up?
- Steven Lowe, Liverpool Who would be the biological parents of a human clone, and what legal ramifications would this have?
- The hearing would decide whether the state should terminate the rights of the biological parents and put the child up for adoption.
- The two candidates for the role of biological father were both Black Panthers.
- Everyone treats me with the temerity usually afforded to expectant fathers and potential Messiahs.
- A young girl needs a strong mother figure.
- And he registers genuine hurt at the fact that Buzzy regards Buck as more of a father figure than himself.
- As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses.
- Disrespect the authority figure out there on the field and then wonder why the kids do it in their classrooms.
- Eventually Daley made the remarkable transition from political boss to father figure.
- He spoke seldom, but he was never impatient with her, always kind, a companionable father figure.
- It would seem that we are far more likely to obey unquestioningly when the authority figure is actually present.
- One wonders what is the unspoken view of the other authority figures involved in setting this up?
- By then, the girl had been put into the temporary care of foster parents by Wirral Council.
- His foster parents say they're giving him a break from events back home.
- News of the deal caused outrage in Britain, and Flintshire social services placed the girls with foster parents.
- On that occasion, they returned to Berkeley with a coachload of other would-be foster parents empty-handed.
- Richard had been passed from one set of foster parents to another until he was ten.
- The children went into voluntary care in June 1991 and were placed together with foster parents.
- The girl, who was with foster parents, wanted her family re-united.
- The sisters were separated, Lore working as a maid and the others going to foster parents.
- More than half of lone parents with two or more children had incomes below their absolute poverty level at £227 a week.
- One Parent Benefit is paid to 75% of lone parents.
- Sheila is a lone parent with two children, aged 13 and 15.
- Two thirds of lone parent families depend mainly on social security benefits, compared with one in eight two parent families.
- We can treat lone parents as poor people, needing means-tested social assistance of some sort - as we do now.
Hodgkins fathered seven children.2 formal to start an important new idea or system: Bevan fathered the concept of the National Health Service.father something on somebody phrasal verb British English formal to claim that someone is responsible for something when they are not: A collection of Irish stories was fathered on him.