–noun 1. an act or instance of being born: the day of his birth.
2. the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring; childbirth; parturition: a difficult birth.
3. lineage; extraction; descent: of Grecian birth.
4. high or noble lineage: to be foolishly vain about one's birth.
5. natural heritage: a musician by birth.
6. any coming into existence; origin; beginning: the birth of Protestantism; the birth of an idea.
7. Archaic. something that is born.
–verb (used with object) Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. 8. to give birth to.
9. to assist in giving birth; act as midwife for.
—Idiom
10. give birth to, a. to bear (a child).
b. to initiate; originate: Her hobby gave birth to a successful business.
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Origin:
1150–1200; ME byrthe < Scand; cf. OSw byrth; c. OE gebyrd, OHG giburt, Goth gabaurths
Synonyms:
3. parentage, ancestry, line, blood, family, race. 6. start, commencement, inception, genesis; launching, inauguration
–noun 1. a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship, airplane, or railroad car.
2. Nautical. a. the space allotted to a vessel at anchor or at a wharf.
b. the distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.
c. the position or rank of a ship's officer.
d. the cabin of a ship's officer.
3. a job; position.
4. a place, listing, or role: She clinched a berth on our tennis team.
–verb (used with object) 5. Nautical. a. to allot to (a vessel) a certain space at which to anchor or tie up.
b. to bring to or install in a berth, anchorage, or moorage: The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats.
6. to provide with a sleeping space, as on a train.
–verb (used without object) 7. Nautical. to come to a dock, anchorage, or moorage.
—Idiom
8. give a wide berth to, to shun; remain discreetly away from: Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses.
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Origin:
1615–25; prob. bear 1 + -th 1
Synonyms:
4. spot, slot, position, post, niche, appointment.



























