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father

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noun American English pronunciation: father /ˈfɑðər/ 
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singularfather
pluralfathers
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    [countable] your male parent. People often call their father Dad or, especially if they are young children, Daddy. In the past, people often called their father Father or Papa

    My father taught me to drive.

    George suspected that he was not the father of Emily's child.

    The thought of becoming a father terrified Mark.

    someone's real/natural father:

    I never knew my real father.

    a father of two/three/four etc.:

    The 32-year-old father of three denies the charges.

    be like a father to someone:

    Tom has been like a father to me.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of father
  2. 2

    Father

     used for talking to or about a priest, especially a Roman Catholic priest

    I need your help, Father.

    Father Peter said that that wasn't a sin.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of father
  3. 3

    Father

     used for talking to or about God in the Christian religion
    Heavenly/Almighty Father:

    Heavenly Father, please hear our prayers.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of father
  4. 4

    fathers

     [plural] people in your family who lived long before you

    Spanish was the language of their fathers.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of father

phrases

This is the American English definition of father. View British English definition of father.

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