girl definition - Dictionary

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girl

girl [ gurl ] (plural girls)

noun

Definition:

1. female child: a human female from birth until the age at which she is considered an adult

2. young woman: a young woman between childhood and adulthood ( often considered offensive )

3. woman of any age: a woman of any age, especially one who is a friend or contemporary, or who is younger than the speaker ( informal ) ( often considered offensive )

a night out with the girls

4. daughter: somebody's daughter, especially when a child ( informal )

5. girlfriend: somebody's girlfriend

6. way of addressing woman: used as a friendly, intimate, or patronizing form of address to a woman ( sometimes considered offensive )

7. offensive term: an offensive term for a young woman servant or employee ( dated )

8. female animal: a female animal, especially a young one ( informal ) ( often used before a noun )

a girl kitten

[13th century. Origin ?]

Word Usage


	girl or woman? Girl is used more often as an alternative for woman, especially in reference to a young woman, than boy is for man. (Boy in reference to an adult is normally found only in the plural or in meanings such as boyfriend.) However, the use of girl for a teenager or an adult is often regarded as patronizing or disrespectful, especially when it comes from a man.