birth
birth — noun
1. the moment a baby or newborn animal starts life outside its mother, or the proce
the moment a baby or newborn animal starts life outside its mother, or the process around that moment
At birth, the twins each weighed less than three kilograms.
pattern: at birth
The foal stood up an hour after birth and followed its mother.
pattern: after birth
Nurses checked the baby's breathing immediately after the difficult birth.
collocation: difficult birth
Viraj still remembers the scar from her son's emergency birth.
- at birth
- from birth
- after birth
- difficult birth
- emergency birth
- childbirth
used for the human process, not usually for animals
- delivery
often used in medical settings, especially for human babies
- arrival
a warmer, less exact word often used in family news
Grammar Patterns
at birth
from birth
after birth
during birth
Usage Note
Common in fixed patterns such as at birth, from birth, and after birth. Distinguish from sense 2, where birth names the baby or young animal itself rather than the event.
Common Mistakes
2. the first appearance of something new, such as an idea, movement, or nation
the first appearance of something new, such as an idea, movement, or nation
The small website marked the birth of a new music scene.
pattern: the birth of + noun
Many historians link the railway to the birth of the town.
That late-night meeting gave birth to their best business idea.
phrase: give birth to + idea
The festival's birth brought visitors and new jobs to the island.
- the birth of a nation
- the birth of an idea
- the birth of a movement
- give birth to a plan
- end
the point when something finishes
Grammar Patterns
the birth of + noun
give birth to + idea
Usage Note
Usually followed by of when naming what begins. This abstract sense is about a new idea, system, group, or period coming into existence, not a person or animal entering the world.
Common Mistakes
3. a baby or young animal counted as the result of one birth
a baby or young animal counted as the result of one birth
The first birth was a girl with her father's dark hair.
countable use: birth = baby born
Both births were healthy boys, the nurse told the grandparents.
The rare white calf was the farm's happiest birth that spring.
animal use of birth
The smallest birth needed a warm box near the heater.
- healthy birth
- the first birth
- both births
- the smallest birth
Usage Note
Much less common than sense 1 and most often seen in medical, farming, or zoo reporting. Here birth names the newborn itself, not the event.
4. the social level or family background a person is born into
the social level or family background a person is born into
Although raised in comfort, Clara was not of noble birth.
pattern: of noble birth
In the old court, men of humble birth rarely became leaders.
pattern: of humble birth
The novel follows a soldier who hides his high birth from friends.
Her birth gave her privilege, but not the skill to rule.
- of noble birth
- of humble birth
- high birth
- low birth
- lineage
more formal and focused on the family line
- background
broader, since it can include education and experience as well
- parentage
focuses on who a person's parents are
Grammar Patterns
of noble birth
of humble birth
Usage Note
Often follows of in fixed phrases such as of noble birth and of humble birth. Distinguish from sense 4, which points to nationality or place of origin rather than class or rank.
5. the place or national group a person belongs to because of where they were born
the place or national group a person belongs to because of where they were born or who their parents are
Marco is Italian by birth but has lived in Taipei since childhood.
pattern: Italian by birth
By birth, Elena was Canadian, though her family later moved to Peru.
pattern: by birth, + clause
The actor is Mexican by birth and Spanish by marriage.
Her birth made her a citizen of France, not Belgium.
- by birth
- Italian by birth
- Canadian by birth
- citizen by birth
- origin
broader and not limited to nationality
- nationality
more exact when the point is legal or national identity
- citizenship
focuses on legal status and may change later
Grammar Patterns
Italian by birth
by birth, + clause
Usage Note
Most common in phrases like French by birth or by birth, Canadian. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about family rank and class, not nationality or birthplace identity.
To bring a baby or young animal out of the mother's body.
Sara gave birth to twins at the hospital last night.
Did the cat give birth to her kittens in the closet?
birth — verb
1. if a woman or female animal births, she brings her young into the world
if a woman or female animal births, she brings her young into the world
After ten hours in labor, Mia birthed a healthy baby boy.
transitive: birth + baby
The mare birthed twins before the vet reached the farm.
animal subject: mare birthed twins
In the storm, the deer birthed beside a fallen tree.
intransitive use
By sunrise, the dog had birthed six puppies in the laundry room.
- birth a baby
- birth twins
- birth puppies
- birth in the barn
Grammar Patterns
birth + baby
birth + litter
birth in + place
Usage Note
When transitive, the direct object is the baby or young animal. For human births in everyday speech, people more often say have a baby than use birth as the main verb.
Common Mistakes
2. to help the mother so that her child or young can come into the world
to help the mother so that her child or young can come into the world
The village nurse birthed three babies during the flood.
subject is helper: nurse birthed babies
A vet birthed the calf after turning it gently by hand.
subject is helper: vet birthed the calf
Dr. Singh birthed twins while the power was still out.
On cold nights, the farmer births lambs in the kitchen.
pattern: birth + lambs
- birth the baby
- birth the calf
- birth twins
- birth lambs
Grammar Patterns
birth + baby
birth + calf
birth + lambs
Usage Note
The subject is usually a doctor, nurse, vet, or farmer who assists the delivery. Distinguish from sense 1, where the subject is the mother herself.
3. to bring a new thing, idea, or situation into existence
to bring a new thing, idea, or situation into existence
The long drought birthed new rules about water use.
abstract subject causes a result
Her anger birthed a silence that lasted through dinner.
Cheap cameras birthed a new wave of street artists.
pattern: birth + new wave
The court case birthed public debate across the whole country.
- birth an idea
- birth a movement
- birth debate
- birth new rules
Grammar Patterns
birth + idea
birth + debate
birth + rule
Usage Note
Common with abstract subjects such as events, feelings, technology, or decisions. More formal and literary than create or cause.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- birthdaynounA1
- birthplacenounB2
- childbirthnounC1
- rebirthnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For the main sense, birth is the broad word for the event or process of a baby or animal entering the world. Childbirth is narrower because it is used for humans, especially when talking about the mother's experience. Delivery is common in hospitals and medical talk, and it often sounds more clinical. Arrival is softer and warmer, so families may use it in cards or announcements, but it is less exact. A doctor may discuss a difficult delivery, while a family may celebrate the baby's arrival. If you are speaking generally or writing neutrally, birth is usually the safest choice.
Etymology
Birth comes from Old English byrd, a word linked to the old verb beran, meaning "to carry" or "to bear". The noun first named the act or fact of being born, and later English extended it to ideas such as family origin and the start of something new.