child S1 W1 / tʃaɪld / 名词 ( 复数形式 children / tʃɪldrən / ) [可数名词]

1 young person someone who is not yet an adult 同义词 kid :

The hotel is ideal for families with young children.

The film is not suitable for children under 12.

I was very happy as a child (= when I was a child ) .

a child of five/eight etc

For a child of five this was a terrifying experience.

a famous writer of children’s books

child victims of war

2 son/daughter a son or daughter of any age :

I have five children, all happily married.

She lives with her husband, Paul, and three grown-up children .

Annie had always wanted to get married and have children.

Alex is an only child (= he has no brothers or sisters ) .

Our youngest child , Sam, has just started university.

eldest child especially BrE, oldest child especially American English

the decision to bring a child into the world (= have a baby )

3 somebody influenced by an idea someone who is very strongly influenced by the ideas and attitudes of a particular period of history

child of

a real child of the sixties

4 somebody who is like a child someone who behaves like a child and is not sensible or responsible – used to show disapproval :

She’s such a child !

5 something is child’s play used to say that something is very easy to do :

I’ve cooked for 200 people before now. So, tonight is child’s play by comparison.

6 children should be seen and not heard an expression meaning that children should be quiet and not talk – used when you disapprove of the way a child is behaving

7 be with child old use to be pregnant

8 be heavy/great with child old use to be nearly ready to give birth

COLLOCATIONS

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + child

a four-year-old/ten-year-old etc child A four-year-old child should not be left on their own.

a young child Young children are naturally curious about the world.

a small child (= a young one ) My family lived in France when I was a small child.

a newborn child He was holding the newborn child in his arms.

an unborn child (= a baby that is still inside its mother ) Smoking can damage your unborn child.

a spoilt/spoiled child (= allowed to do or have whatever he or she wants, and behaving badly ) He’s behaving like a spoilt child.

a gifted child (= extremely intelligent ) a special school for gifted children

a bright child (= intelligent ) He was a bright child – always asking questions.

a good/bad child Be a good child and sit down!

a naughty child (= doing things that are not allowed ) He’s behaving like a naughty child.

an easy/difficult child (= easy or difficult to deal with ) Marcus was a very happy, easy child.

a problem child (= very difficult to deal with ) Problem children may need to be removed from the classroom.

an adopted child (= legally made part of a family that he or she was not born into ) I didn’t find out that I was an adopted child until years later.

street children (= living on the streets because they have no homes ) The organization aims to help street children in Latin America.

动词

bring up a child especially British English , raise a child especially American English The cost of bringing up a child has risen rapidly.

a child is born Most children at born in hospital.

a child grows up One in four children is growing up in poverty.

child + NOUN

child abuse (= treating children in a very bad way, especially sexually ) He was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.

child development She’s an expert in child development.

child labour British English , child labor American English (= the use of children as workers ) The garments were made using child labour.

THESAURUS

child someone who is not yet an adult. You don’t usually use child to talk about babies or teenagers : Many children are scared of the dark. | He’s just a child.

kid informal a child. Kid is the usual word to use in everyday spoken English : We left the kids in the car.

little boy/little girl a young male or female child : I lived there when I was a little girl. | Little boys love dinosaurs.

teenager someone between the ages of 13 and 19 : There’s not much for teenagers to do around here.

adolescent a young person who is developing into an adult – used especially when talking about the problems these people have : He changed from a cheerful child to a confused adolescent.

youth especially disapproving a teenage boy – especially one who is violent and commits crimes : He was attacked by a gang of youths. | a youth court

youngster a child or young person – used especially by old people : You youngsters have got your whole life ahead of you. | He’s a bright youngster with a good sense of humour.

minor law someone who is not yet legally an adult : It is illegal to sell alcohol to a minor.