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girl - definition and synonyms

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noun [countable] girl pronunciation in British English /ɡɜː(r)l/
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singulargirl
pluralgirls
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  1. 1
    a female child

    There are 12 boys and 15 girls in my son’s class.

    little girl:

    What a pretty little girl!

    Synonyms and related words
    General words for child and types of child:adolescent, bairn, boomerang kid...
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    1. a.
      a daughter

      Mary’s two girls still live at home.

      Synonyms and related words
      Sons and daughters and nephews and nieces:bastard, boy, child...
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  2. 2
    a female adult, especially a young one. This use is considered offensive by many women

    Who was that beautiful girl I saw you with last night?

    Synonyms and related words
    Women and girls:woman, girls, female...
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    1. a.

      girls

      [plural] used for talking to or about a group of women, especially by women who are the same age or older. This is often considered offensive when used by men

      So how are you girls doing today?

      the girls (=a woman’s female friends):

      I’m going out with the girls tonight.

      Synonyms and related words
      Names used for talking to women or girls:love, miss, babe...
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      Synonyms and related words
      Women and girls:woman, girls, female...
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    2. b.
      old-fashioned a young woman who works as a servant or in a shop, office etc

      a shop/an office/a factory girl

      Synonyms and related words
      Servants:amah, batman, butler...
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    See also old girl
  3. 3
    [often before noun] a female animal, especially a pet
    Synonyms and related words
    Female animals:bitch, cow, dam...
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Avoiding offence: girl
Words that may cause offence: girl
People sometimes say girl to refer to a young adult woman, but this use may cause offence. Avoid using girl if it would seem wrong to use boy about a young man of the same age. Do not use girl about an adult woman.

This is the British English definition of girl. View American English definition of girl.

Change your default dictionary to American English.

View the pronunciation for girl.

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