Alternative spelling of burn (a stream)
"We hiked along the narrow born that winds through the valley, its waters cold and clear after the rain."
"The job was born out of frustration with the existing system."
Usage: Do not use "born" as a noun; it is an alternative spelling of "burn," which refers to a small stream or river. The word born should only be used as a past participle verb meaning to come into life.
past participle of bear; given birth to.
"The old barn was born by a stray spark from the burning embers last night."
Alternative spelling of burn (with fire etc.)
In plain English: To be born means to come into the world as a baby after being inside your mother's body.
"She was born in a small village near the coast."
Usage: Do not use "born" to mean burning with fire; that is an archaic or dialectal variant of "burn." The only correct usage for "born" in modern English is as a past participle describing someone who has come into life.
Having from birth (or as if from birth) a certain quality or character; innate; inherited.
"She has a born leadership that makes her naturally command respect in any group she joins."
In plain English: Born describes something that exists naturally from the start without being made by people.
"The born leader in our team has already taken charge of the project."
Usage: Use "born" before a noun to describe an inherent quality someone possesses from the start, such as a born leader. Do not use it after the verb "to be," as that construction is grammatically incorrect.
The word "born" comes from Old English, where it originally meant the past participle of the verb to carry. It traveled into modern English with this same meaning, evolving from earlier forms that described being carried or brought forth.