# sister

/ˈsɪstɝ/ (US) · /sˈɪstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sister
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female sibling

noun · CEFR A1

a girl or woman who has the same parents as you.

For teachers: a female sibling; a daughter of the same parents as another person.

- My older sister is helping me study for my math exam this weekend.
- Although they are sisters, their temperaments couldn't be more different; one is quite introverted while the other thrives in social settings.

### 2. senior nurse

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a senior or head nurse in a hospital.

For teachers: a senior female nurse, especially one in charge of a hospital ward.

- The ward sister checked the patient's charts during her morning rounds.
- After twenty years of service, she was promoted to sister, taking full responsibility for the surgical recovery unit.

### 3. religious member

noun · CEFR B1 · Formal

a woman who belongs to a religious group, like a nun.

For teachers: a female member of a religious order or community.

- Sister Mary has lived and worked at the convent for forty years.
- The sisters of the local abbey are well-known for their extensive charitable work within the impoverished urban districts.

### 4. communal bond

noun · CEFR B2

a woman you feel a strong connection with because of shared goals or identity.

For teachers: a woman who shares a common interest, race, or membership in an organization with others.

- She called her fellow activists sisters in the fight for equal rights.
- The organization aims to empower sisters from all walks of life to pursue leadership roles in the technology sector.

### 5. related entity

noun · CEFR B2

a thing that is closely related to another, like two similar cities.

For teachers: an entity, such as a company or city, that has a close relationship with another.

- Oxford is a sister city to several other university towns around the world.
- The two sister companies shared a headquarters but operated in entirely different market segments to avoid internal competition.

### 6. to reinforce a beam

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to make a wooden beam stronger by attaching another one next to it.

For teachers: to strengthen a structural member by fastening a second similar member alongside it.

- The builder had to sister the floor joists to support the new bathtub.
- To rectify the sagging ceiling, the contractor decided to sister the existing rafters with new pressure-treated lumber.

Usage: The verb is transitive and typically used in construction or carpentry contexts.

## Examples

- My older sister helps me with my homework.
- She lives in London with her younger sister while they both attend university.
- The bond between a sister and her siblings often serves as a primary social foundation, influencing interpersonal dynamics well into adulthood.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.