The meaning of MATERNAL is of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother : motherly. How to use maternal in a sentence.

May 4, 2022 · Maternal describes things related to a mother or motherhood. Paternal describes things related to a father or fatherhood. Sometimes, they mean motherly and fatherly, as in phrases like maternal/paternal instincts.

MATERNAL definition: 1. behaving or feeling in the way that a mother does towards her child, especially in a kind…. Learn more.

Relating to or characteristic of a mother or motherhood; motherly: maternal instinct. 2. Inherited from one's mother: a maternal trait. 3. Related through one's mother: my maternal uncle. [Middle English, from Old French maternel, from Medieval Latin māternālis, from Latin māternus, from māter, mother; see māter- in Indo-European roots.]

As an adjective maternal is of or pertaining to a mother; having the characteristics of a mother, motherly.

Maternal definition: Of, like, or characteristic of a mother or motherhood; motherly.

Maternal is used to describe feelings or actions which are typical of those of a kind mother towards her child. [...] 2. Maternal is used to describe things that relate to the mother of a baby. [...] 3. A maternal relative is one who is related through a person's mother rather than their father. [...] Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

How does maternal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons: maternal vs. fraternal

Definition of maternal adjective in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

If you are maternal, you are like a mother. How you define what it is to be “like a mother” is up to you, but most people think of nurturing things like chicken soup and kisses on the forehead. The adjective maternal comes from the Latin maternus, which means “of a mother.”