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maternal

ma·ter·nal

maternal

 
 
pronunciation:
m tuhr nl
features:
Word Combinations (adjective), Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother.
Maternal behavior comes naturally to these animals.She felt maternal love for all her children.Sadly for the young man, her feelings for him were more maternal than romantic.
 
synonyms:
motherly
similar words:
mother, nurturing, parental
definition 2: related on the mother's side of the family.
My maternal grandmother is much older than my father's mother.
synonyms:
matrilineal
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derivations: maternalistic (adj.), maternally (adv.), maternalism (n.)
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