Edit page | Page history | Printable version

parent

1. One who begets, or brings forth, offspring; a father or a mother. Children, obey your parents in the lord. (Eph. Vi. 1)

2. That which produces; cause; source; author; begetter; as, idleness is the parent of vice. Regular industry is the parent of sobriety. (Channing) Parent cell.

(Science: biology) A nucleus which, in cell division, divides, and gives rise to two or more daughter nuclei. See karyokinesis, and cell division, under Division.

Origin: L. Parens, -entis; akin to parere to bring forth; cf. Gr. To give, beget: cf. F. Parent. Cf. Part.