family

adjectiveonly before noun

UK /ˈfæm(ə)li/

1
relating to families, or typical of families
Quarrels are a normal part of family life.
Synonyms and related words
Describing or relating to relatedness
be distantly related to someone
close
direct
2
suitable for a family with children
a three-bedroom family home with a garden
a family film
a family-size packet of cornflakes
Synonyms and related words
General words for family members
a near relative/relation
be someone’s elder
black sheep

family

adjectiveonly before noun

US /ˈfæm(ə)li/

1
relating to families, or typical of families
Quarrels are a normal part of family life.
Synonyms and related words
Describing or relating to relatedness
be distantly related to someone
close
direct
2
appropriate for a family with children
a three-bedroom family home with a pool
a family movie
a family-size box of cornflakes
Synonyms and related words
General words for family members
be someone’s elder
black sheep
blood

family

noun

UK /ˈfæm(ə)li/

Word Forms

singular	family
plural	families

1
countable a group of people who live together and are related to one another, usually consisting of parents and children: can be followed by a singular or plural verb
A family with two children live next door.
Is the Watson family going to be there?
He grew up in a large working-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.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of people who live together or in the same place
colony
commune
community
1. 1a
  countable a group of people who are all related to one another, including dead members of the group: can be followed by a singular or plural verb
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for family members
  a near relative/relation
  be someone’s elder
  black sheep
2. 1b
  uncountable people who are related to you: can be followed by a singular or plural verb
  We spent the holiday period 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.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for family members
  a near relative/relation
  be someone’s elder
  black sheep
2
countable children in a family: can be followed by a singular or plural verb
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.
Synonyms and related words
General words for family members
a near relative/relation
be someone’s elder
black sheep
3
countable biologya 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.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of living things
genus
species
subspecies
4
run in the family
if a particular quality or ability runs in the family, a lot of people in that family have it
Athletic ability runs in the family: his father played basketball in college and his mother was a high school athlete.
Submitted from:
Poland on 24/10/2015
Open Dictionary - October2015

phrases

in the family way

family

noun

US /ˈfæm(ə)li/

Word Forms

singular	family
plural	families

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.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of people who live together or in the same place
the Brady Bunch
colony
commune
1. 1a
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for family members
  be someone’s elder
  black sheep
  blood
2. 1b
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for family members
  be someone’s elder
  black sheep
  blood
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.
Synonyms and related words
General words for family members
be someone’s elder
black sheep
blood
3
countable biologya 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.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of living things
genus
species
subspecies
4
run in the family
if a particular quality or ability runs in the family, a lot of people in that family have it
Athletic ability runs in the family: his father played basketball in college and his mother was a high school athlete.
Submitted from:
Poland on 24/10/2015
Open Dictionary - October2015

phrases

in the family way

family

family

family ​‌‌‌

run in the family

family ​‌‌‌

run in the family

family

family