Definition of 'childlike'
adjective
You describe someone as childlike when they seem like a child in their character, appearance, or behavior.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
childlike
Word Frequency
childlike in American English
adjective
SYNONYMY NOTE:
childlike,
childish are both applied to persons of any age in referring to characteristics or qualities
considered typical of a child, ,
childlike suggesting the favorable qualities such as innocence, guilelessness, trustfulness,
etc. and ,
childish, the unfavorable, as immaturity, foolishness, petulance, etc.1.
belonging or
suitable to a child
2.
like or characteristic of a child; innocent,
trusting, etc.
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
childlikeness (ˈchildˌlikeness)
noun
Word Frequency
childlike in British English
adjective
Compare
childish (sense 2)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Examples of 'childlike' in a sentence
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childlike
British English: childlike ADJECTIVE
You describe someone as childlike when they seem like a child in their character, appearance, or behaviour.
His most enduring quality is his childlike innocence.
Nearby words of
childlike
Related terms of
childlike
Source
Definition of childlike from the
Collins English Dictionary
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