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# maternal

adjective (maternal); adverb maternally

«maternal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To do with a mother or being a mother; motherly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#m1)
2. (family) Related through your mother («maternal grandmother» = your mum's mother). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#m2)
3. (health) To do with women having babies («maternal health»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#m3)

### In the lessons

In family trees and science lessons: maternal and paternal sides of the family; maternal care in animals (a hen sitting on eggs). In health: maternity leave, maternity ward. Phrases: «maternal instinct», «maternal grandfather».

### Examples

- My maternal grandmother is my mum's mum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#x1)
- Hens show strong maternal care. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#x2)
- She felt maternal towards the little kitten. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#x3)
- Elephants have strong maternal bonds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#x4)
- The maternity ward is where babies are born. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#x5)
- My maternal uncle lives in Ireland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/#x6)

### Note

Opposite for fathers: «paternal». Related: «maternity», «mother», Latin «mater». In family-tree puzzles, «maternal» tells you which side.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «maternal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maternal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«maternal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/maternal.html) on Mova free.