51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

girl

[gurl]

noun

  1. a female child, from birth to full growth.

  2. a young, immature woman, especially formerly, an unmarried one.

  3. a daughter.

    My wife and I have two girls.

  4. Informal: Sometimes Offensive.a grown woman, especially when referred to familiarly.

    She's having the girls over for bridge next week.

  5. a girlfriend; sweetheart.

  6. Older Use: Usually Offensive.a female servant, as a maid.

  7. Older Use: Usually Offensive.a female employee, especially an office assistant.

  8. a female who is from or native to a given place.

    She's a Missouri girl.

  9. (used with a singular or plural verb)girls,

    1. a range of sizes from 7 to 14, for garments made for girls.

    2. a garment in this size range.

    3. the department or section of a store where these garments are sold.

  10. Slang.girls, one's breasts (usually preceded by the, my, etc., and primarily used self-referentially by women).



girl

/ ɡɜː /

noun

  1. a female child from birth to young womanhood

  2. a young unmarried woman; lass; maid

  3. informala sweetheart or girlfriend

  4. informala woman of any age

  5. an informal word for daughter

  6. a female employee, esp a female servant

  7. derogatorya Black female servant of any age

  8. informal(usually plural) a group of women, esp acquaintances

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Usage

The use of girl as in meaning 4 , to refer to a woman of any age, is highly likely to be considered old-fashioned or to cause offence
Discover More

Sensitive Note

Some adult women are offended if referred to as a girl, or informally, a gal. However, a group of adult female friends often refer to themselves as the girls, and their “girls night out” implies the company of adult females. Also, a woman may express camaraderie by addressing another woman as girl, as in You go, girl! or Attagirl! Referring to one's female office assistant or housekeeper as the girl or my girl, once in common use, is now considered unacceptable. Working girl, meaning “a woman who works,” girl/gal Friday, meaning “a female office assistant,” and other occupational terms such as career girl and college girl, are also dated and often perceived as insulting. Working girl as a slang term meaning “a prostitute” is sometimes used by female prostitutes as a euphemistic self-reference. See also lady, woman.
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of girl1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English gurle, girle, gerle “child, young person”; compare Old English gyrela, gi(e)rela “item of dress, apparel” (presumably worn by the young in the late Old English period, and hence used as a metonym)
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of girl1

C13: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Low German ö boy, girl
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A man died and several others, including an eight-year-old girl, were injured in the fire.

From

But this time the issue is personal: The girls’ father is an undocumented Mexican immigrant.

From

As he told me in 2017, “I had my little girl, and I got married. All that trust, I built it, little by little with my family members,” he said.

From

“The girl who takes care of my kids is undocumented and she’s scared to leave the house. I have a lot of friends and family in the same boat.”

From

Known for "what I eat in a day" and "skinny girl essential" suggestions, Ms Schmidt was accused of "rage baiting" to boost her profile views.

From

Advertisement

Related 51Թs

Discover More

When To Use

Where does the word girl come from?

The word girl, meaning "a female child," originally meant any "child" or "young person," regardless of gender. Girl, for "child," is recorded around 1250–1300.However, the original source of the word is uncertain. Scholars point to Old English words like gyrela, "an item of dress, apparel," presumably of a type worn by and popular with a young person back then.Guess what other word has obscure roots? Boy. Discover why in our slideshow “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other 51Թs That We Don’t Know Where They Came From."

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Girgentigirl band