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give birth to

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give birth to someone or something

 

1. Lit. to have a child; [for an animal] to bring forth young. She gave birth to a baby girl. The cat gave birth to a large number of adorable kittens.

2. Fig. to bring forth a new idea, an invention, a nation, etc. The company gave birth to a new technology. The basic idea of participatory democracy gave birth to a new nation.

See also: birth, give

give birth to something

to cause or be the origin of something The popularity of the car eventually gave birth to the interstate highways.

Related vocabulary: give rise to something

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of give birth (to have a baby)

See also: birth, give

give birth to

1. Bear a child, as in She gave birth to her first child exactly at midnight. [Early 1800s]

2. Also, give rise to. Be the cause or origin of. For example, His hobby gave birth to a very successful business, or The economic situation gave rise to widespread dissatisfaction. The first term dates from the early 1700s, the second from the late 1700s.

See also: birth, give

give birth to

1. To bear as offspring.

2. To be the origin of: a hobby that gave birth to a successful business.

See also: birth, give