maternal
adjective /məˈtɜː.nəl/
/-ˈtɝː-/ Definition
› behaving or feeling in the way that a mother does towards her child, especially in a kind, loving way: maternal instincts She is very maternal towards her staff. → Compare paternalKind and thoughtful › related to a mother's side of the family: Her maternal grandmother (= mother's mother) is still alive.Family relations in general maternally /-i/ adverb Family relations in general
(Definition of maternal adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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- Enemies & rivals
- Family: ancestors & descendants
- Family: informal names
- Family: non-blood relations
- Friendly
- Friends, acquaintances & contemporaries
- Marriage, cohabitation & other relationships
- Marriage: marital status
- Not being friendly
- Relationships: ending & divorce
- Relationships: finding a partner
- Relationships: general words
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Synonyms and related words:
- aunt noun
- be sb's own flesh and blood idiom
- birth mother noun
- birth parent noun
- black sheep noun
- first cousin noun
- fraternal adjective
- grandchild noun
- granddaughter noun
- grandfather noun
- maiden aunt noun
- matriarch noun
- mother noun (PARENT)
- motherhood noun
- nan noun 1
- sisterhood noun
- son noun
- uncle noun
- working mother/father/parent noun
- your nearest and dearest idiom
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Family: relations in general
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