family
/'fæmili/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption: The most common meaning, referring to a fundamental social unit, typically consisting of parents and their children.
- All the descendants of a common ancestor; lineage: Refers to a broader group of people connected by ancestry over generations.
- (Biology) A principal taxonomic category ranking above genus and below order: A scientific classification for a group of related organisms.
- A group of things sharing common characteristics: A set of related items, languages, or concepts.
- A group of people united by a shared affiliation, belief, or activity: Used metaphorically to describe a close-knit group, such as a team, organization, or community.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- My family is going on vacation next week. (Referring to parents and children.)
- She comes from an old aristocratic family. (Referring to lineage.)
- Lions and tigers belong to the cat family, Felidae. (Biological classification.)
- These languages are part of the Indo-European family. (Group of related languages.)
- The company treats its employees like family. (Metaphorical group united by affiliation.)
Advanced Usage
- "In the family way" (idiom, dated/informal): Pregnant.
- She is in the family way.
- "Run in the family": To be a common trait among members of a family.
- Musical talent runs in the family.
- "Family resemblance": A similarity in appearance or character among family members.
- You can see the strong family resemblance between the sisters.
Variants and Related Words
- Familial (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of a family.
- They share a strong familial bond.
- Family man (n): A man who is devoted to his wife and children.
- He's a real family man, always home for dinner.
- Extended family (n): A family that extends beyond the nuclear family to include relatives like grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
- Nuclear family (n): A family unit consisting of two parents and their children.
Synonyms
- Household: The people living together in one house (can include non-relatives).
- Kin / Kinsfolk: One's relatives collectively.
- Lineage: Line of descent from an ancestor.
- Clan: A large family group, often with a common ancestor.
Related Phrases
- Family tree: A diagram showing the relationships between people in a family over generations.
- Family name: A surname; the name shared by members of a family.
- Family values: Moral and ethical principles traditionally learned within a family.
- Family-friendly: Suitable or designed for people of all ages, especially children and parents.
Idioms
- "Like one of the family": Treated with the familiarity and affection of a family member.
- Our housekeeper has been with us so long, she's like one of the family.
- "Black sheep of the family": A member who is considered a disgrace or outlier.
- He was always the black sheep of the family, never following the rules.
- "Start a family": To begin having children.
- They plan to start a family soon after they get married.
Noun
- an association of people who share common beliefs or activities
- the message was addressed not just to employees but to every member of the company family
- the church welcomed new members into its fellowship
- a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities
- (biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera
- sharks belong to the fish family
- a person having kinship with another or others
- he's kin
- he's family
- people descended from a common ancestor
- his family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower
- a collection of things sharing a common attribute
- there are two classes of detergents
- primary social group; parents and children
- he wanted to have a good job before starting a family
- a social unit living together
- he moved his family to Virginia
- It was a good Christian household
- I waited until the whole house was asleep
- the teacher asked how many people made up his home