a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
"After my biological parents moved away, my aunt stepped in as their parent to help raise me."
an organism (plant or animal) from which younger ones are obtained
"The coral reef teemed with life as countless tiny fish swam away from their parent to find new homes in the ocean."
One of the two persons from whom one is immediately biologically descended; a mother or father.
"After years of searching, they finally found their biological parent who had given them up for adoption at birth."
In plain English: A parent is a person who raises and takes care of their child.
"My parent is coming to pick me up from school after the game."
Usage: Use "parent" to refer to either a mother or father who raises a child, regardless of whether they are biological relatives. It functions as both a singular and plural noun when discussing family units.
To act as parent, to raise or rear.
"After his wife passed away, he decided to take full responsibility for raising their two young daughters on his own."
In plain English: To parent means to take care of and guide your children.
"The parents will have to pay for their children's education."
Usage: Use "parent" as a verb when describing the specific act of raising or nurturing a child, often implying an active role in their development. This usage is common in informal contexts but remains less standard than using it as a noun for a family member.
The word "parent" entered English from the Middle French and Anglo-Norman forms, which ultimately trace back to the Latin parēns. Originally derived from a verb meaning "to breed or bring forth," it has retained its core sense of a mother or father throughout its history.