uncle

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a close male friend of your parents who you treat like a family member.

n. a fictive kinship title applied to a close male friend of one's parents.

“Uncle Dave isn't actually related to us, but he's my dad's best friend.”

“In many households, it is customary for children to address long-term family friends as 'uncle' as a sign of respect and intimacy.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Dialect · Informal

n. a polite or friendly way to refer to any middle-aged or elderly man.

n. a term of address for an older or middle-aged man, common in various English dialects including Singaporean and Malaysian English.

“The uncle at the market always gives me a discount on fruit.”

“The local taxi uncle knew every shortcut in the city, navigating the morning traffic with impressive ease.”

C1 · Advanced American English · Informal

interj. a word you say to show you give up, usually during a game or a friendly fight.

interj. a cry used to indicate submission or surrender, typically in the idiom 'cry uncle'.

“I had to cry uncle when my big brother started tickling me.”

“The wrestler refused to cry uncle despite being held in a painful submission grip for several minutes.”