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Definition of 'born'

Word Frequency

born

(bɔːʳn )
1. passive verb
When a baby is born, it comes out of its mother's body at the beginning of its life. In formal English, if you say that someone is born of someone or to someone, you mean that person is their parent.
My mother was 40 when I was born. [be VERB-ed]
She was born in London on April 29, 1923. [be VERB-ed]
He was born of German parents and lived most of his life abroad. [be V-ed + of/to]
Willie Smith was the second son born to Jean and Stephen. [V-ed + of/to]
Synonyms: brought into this world, delivered   More Synonyms of born
2. passive verb [no cont]
If someone is born with a particular disease, problem, or characteristic, they have it from the time they are born.
He was born with only one lung. [be VERB-ed + with]
Some people are born brainy. [be VERB-ed adjective]
I think he was born to be editor of a tabloid newspaper. [be VERB-ed to-infinitive]
We are all born leaders; we just need the right circumstances in which to flourish. [be VERB-ed noun]
3. passive verb [no cont]
You can use be born in front of a particular name to show that a person was given this name at birth, although they may be better known by another name.
[formal]
She was born Jenny Harvey on June 11, 1946. [be VERB-ed noun]
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use born to describe someone who has a natural ability to do a particular activity or job. For example, if you are a born cook, you have a natural ability to cook well.
Jack was a born teacher.
5. passive verb
When an idea or organization is born, it comes into existence. If something is born of a particular emotion or activity, it exists as a result of that emotion or activity.
[formal]
The idea for the show was born in his hospital room. [be VERB-ed]
Congress passed the National Security Act, and the CIA was born. [be VERB-ed]
Energy conservation as a philosophy was born out of the 1973 oil crisis. [be V-ed + out of/of]
6.  See also -born, first born, newborn
7.  to be born and bred
8.  to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

born in British

(bɔːn )
verb
1.  the past participle (in most passive uses) of bear (sense 4)
2.  was not born yesterday
adjective
3. 
possessing or appearing to have possessed certain qualities from birth
a born musician
4. 
a. 
being at birth in a particular social status or other condition as specified
ignobly born
b. 
(in combination)
lowborn
5.  in all one's born days
▶ USAGE Care should be taken not to use born where borne is intended: he had borne (not born) his ordeal with great courage; the following points should be borne in mind
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

Born in British

(bɔːn )
noun
Max. 1882–1970, British nuclear physicist, born in Germany, noted for his fundamental contribution to quantum mechanics: Nobel prize for physics 1954
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

Born in American

(bɔrn ; bôrn)
Max1882-1970; Ger. nuclear physicist, in England (1933-53)
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency

born in American

(bɔrn ; bôrn)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
1.  alt. pp. of
bear1
adjective
2. 
brought into life or being
3. 
by birth
used in hyphenated compounds
French-born
4. 
having certain qualities or abilities innately, as if from birth; natural
a born athlete
5. 
being as specified from birth
nobly born
6.  Informal, Dialectal
since birth
in all my born days
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Example sentences containing 'born'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Even if you could act humble enough to convince anybody you weren't a princess born and bred. Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)Sleep's good, death's better, but best of all is never to be born at all. Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)

Trends of 'born'

Very Common. born is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Nearby words of 'born'

  • borlotti bean
  • borm
  • Bormann
  • born
  • -born
  • born in/out of wedlock
  • born on the wrong side of the blanket

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'B'

Related Terms of 'born'

  • -born
  • bear
  • born-free
  • last-born
  • true-born

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of born from the Collins English Dictionary

The present continuous tense

Typical forms of this tense are as in: I am winning. He is winning. Am I winning? Is she winning? I am not winning. He is not winning. Aren’t I winning? Isn’t she winning? Am I not winni...
Read more about 'The present continuous tense'
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Scrabble score for 'born': 6
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