| adopt |
to become a parent of (a child) by law, or to accept an animal as a pet and become responsible for it. [1/3 definitions] |
| caregiver |
a person who lives with and is responsible for the care of a child. A caregiver can be a family member, like a parent, aunt, uncle, stepparent, or grandparent, or it can be another person. [1/2 definitions] |
| chromosome |
a part found in the cells of all plants and animals. Chromosomes contain genes which pass on physical characteristics from parent to offspring. |
| DNA |
a substance found in cells that contains information about the characteristics of a living thing. DNA plays a part in the passing on of characteristics from parent to offspring. "DNA" is an abbreviation of "deoxyribonucleic acid." |
| family |
a group made up of a parent or parents and their children. [1/5 definitions] |
| father |
a male parent. [1/3 definitions] |
| gene |
a tiny section of a chromosome. A gene causes a particular characteristic, such as eye color or hair color, to be passed on from parent to offspring. |
| genetics |
(used with a singular verb) the science that studies how characteristics are passed on from parent to offspring. Genetics is concerned with the influence of genes on the appearance, development, and evolution of plants and animals. |
| grandma |
(informal) the female parent of one's parent; grandmother. |
| grandpa |
(informal) the male parent of one's parent; grandfather. |
| grandparent |
the father or mother of one's parent; a grandmother or grandfather. |
| great-grandparent |
a parent of one's grandmother or grandfather. |
| half |
having just one parent in common with someone. [1/5 definitions] |
| half brother |
a male who is a brother through one parent only. |
| half sister |
a female who is a sister through one parent only. |
| hereditary |
having to do with characteristics that are passed or could be passed from parent to offspring. [1/2 definitions] |
| heredity |
the passing of characteristics from parent to offspring. [1/2 definitions] |
| mother1 |
a female parent. [2/5 definitions] |
| parental |
of, relating to, or characteristic of a parent or parents. |
| stepparent |
a man or woman who is not one's natural parent but is married to one's natural parent; a stepfather or stepmother. |
| ward |
a child or other person who has been placed under control of a person or group other than a parent by a court of law. [1/4 definitions] |