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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

virgin birth en · NOUN

Etymology

From virgin + birth.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) A birth (or vegetal reproduction) after spontaneous, unfertilized gamete-development in a virginal mother, parthenogenesis.
  2. (countable, uncountable) (often capitalized and used absolutely: the Virgin Birth) The miraculous birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary.
  3. (countable, uncountable) (often capitalized and used absolutely: the Virgin Birth) The miraculous birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary. ▸ Any similar birth of a deity.
    • At the moment then when Sirius, the star from the East, by coming to the Meridian at midnight signalled the Sun's new birth, the Virgin was seen just rising on the Eastern sky - the horizon line passing through her centre. And many people think that this astronomical fact is the explanation of the very widespread legend of the Virgin-birth. 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 31:
  4. (countable, uncountable) Childbirth in which the offspring is said to have been conceived without sexual intercourse.
    • Many religions and traditions have myths about a virgin birth.
    • Oh, you never let the cat out? Then I suppose those kittens were a virgin birth.
  5. (countable, uncountable) Childbirth in which the mother conceived the child through artificial insemination.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
Virgin birth alternative lexicographic
virgin births Number=Plur lexicographic
Virgin Birth alternative lexicographic

Translations (15)

nn jomfrufødsel (the birth of Christ) · de Jungfernzeugung (birth in a virginal mother; parthenogenesis) · da jomfrufødsel (the birth of Christ) · sv jungfrufödelse (the birth of Christ) · ja 処女懐胎 (the birth of Christ) · is meyfæðing (the birth of Christ) · fi neitseestä syntyminen (the birth of Christ) · de Jungfrauengeburt (the birth of Christ) · fo moyggjarburður (the birth of Christ) · ja 処女懐胎 (birth in a virginal mother; parthenogenesis) · fi neitseellinen lisääntyminen (birth in a virginal mother; parthenogenesis) · sv jungfrufödsel (the birth of Christ) · nb jomfrufødsel (the birth of Christ) · nl maagdelijke geboorte (birth in a virginal mother; parthenogenesis) · de Jungferngeburt (birth in a virginal mother; parthenogenesis)