ENGLISH
REFERENCE

childbirth

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtʃaɪɫdˌbɝθ// UK //tʃˈaɪldbɜːθ// child·birth

n. the process of giving birth to a baby. It describes the physical act of a child being born.

n. the act or process of giving birth to a child.


SIMPLE

Childbirth is a natural biological process.

CONTEXTUAL

She attended several classes to prepare for the physical demands of childbirth.

COMPLEX

Modern medicine has transformed childbirth from a dangerous event into a routine, albeit intense, milestone in human life.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English childbyrth [and other forms], perhaps a partial calque of Old Norse barnburðr (“childbearing, childbirth”, literally “bairn birth”); equivalent to child + birth. Compare Swedish barnsbörd (“childbirth”), Icelandic barnsburður (“childbirth”).

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