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par•ent

Pronunciation: (pâr'unt, par'-), [key]
—n.
1. a father or a mother.
2. an ancestor, precursor, or progenitor.
3. a source, origin, or cause.
4. a protector or guardian.
5. Biol.any organism that produces or generates another.
6. Physics.the first nuclide in a radioactive series.

—adj.
1. being the original source: a parent organization.
2. Biol.pertaining to an organism, cell, or complex molecular structure that generates or produces another: parent cell; parent DNA.

—v.t.
to be or act as parent of: to parent children with both love and discipline.

parens

parentage

See also:

parent (Thesaurus)

Dictionary

par•ent

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