family
Other forms: families
If you refer to your family, you're probably talking about a group of people who are related to you by blood or marriage.
Family is used many different ways. It can mean "household," or the people you live with, or it can refer to a partner and the children you are raising together. Your family can include people you've never met, like distant cousins, if you're using it to talk about the wider group of all of your relatives. There's also the scientific term family, which is a term that ranks the way different organisms are related to each other.
Definitions of family
-
primary social group; parents and children“he wanted to have a good job before starting a family”synonyms: family unitexamples:Bronte sistersa 19th century family of three sisters who all wrote novelsMarx Brothersa family of United States comedians consisting of four brothers with an anarchic sense of humortypes:power couplea couple both of whom have high-powered careers or are politically influentialDINKa couple who both have careers and no children (an acronym for dual income no kids)mixed marriagemarriage of two people from different races or different religions or different cultures
-
a social unit living together“he moved his family to Virginia”types:broken homea family in which the parents have separated or divorcedconjugal family, nuclear familya family consisting of parents and their children and grandparents of a marital partnerextended familya family consisting of the nuclear family and their blood relativesfoster familythe family of a fosterlingfoster homea household in which an orphaned or delinquent child is placed (usually by a social-service agency)menage a troishousehold for three; an arrangement where a married couple and a lover of one of them live together while sharing sexual relationstype of:
-
people descended from a common ancestor“his family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower”types:peoplemembers of a family linehomefolkthe people of your home locality (especially your own family)housearistocratic family linedynastya sequence of powerful leaders in the same familyBourbon, Bourbon dynastya European royal line that ruled in France (from 1589-1793) and Spain and Naples and SicilyCapetian dynastya Frankish dynasty founded by Hugh Capet that ruled from 987 to 1328Carlovingian dynasty, Carolingian dynastya Frankish dynasty founded by Charlemagne's father that ruled from 751 to 987Flavian dynastya dynasty of Roman Emperors from 69 to 96 including Vespasian and his sons Titus and DomitianHan, Han dynastyimperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy; remembered as one of the great eras of Chinese civilizationHanover, Hanoverian line, House of Hanoverthe English royal house that reigned from 1714 to 1901 (from George I to Victoria)Habsburg, Hapsburga royal German family that provided rulers for several European states and wore the crown of the Holy Roman Empire from 1440 to 1806Hohenzollerna German noble family that ruled Brandenburg and PrussiaHouse of Lancaster, Lancaster, Lancastrian linethe English royal house that reigned from 1399 to 1461; its emblem was a red roseMerovingian, Merovingian dynastya Frankish dynasty founded by Clovis I that reigned in Gaul and Germany from about 500 to 750Ottoman, Ottoman dynastythe Turkish dynasty that ruled the Ottoman Empire from the 13th century to its dissolution after World War IPlantagenet, Plantagenet linethe family name of a line of English kings that reigned from 1154 to 1485Ptolemaic dynasty, Ptolemyan ancient dynasty of Macedonian kings who ruled Egypt from 323 BC to 30 BC; founded by Ptolemy I and ended with CleopatraCh'in, Ch'in dynasty, Qin, Qin dynastythe Chinese dynasty (from 246 BC to 206 BC) that established the first centralized imperial government and built much of the Great WallCh'ing, Ch'ing dynasty, Manchu, Manchu dynasty, Qing, Qing dynastythe last imperial dynasty of China (from 1644 to 1912) which was overthrown by revolutionaries; during the Qing dynasty China was ruled by the ManchuSaxe-Coburg-Gothathe name of the royal family that ruled Great Britain from 1901-1917; the name was changed to Windsor in 1917 in response to anti-German feelings in World War ISeljukany one of the Turkish dynasties that ruled Asia Minor from the 11th to the 13th centuries; they successfully invaded Byzantium and defended the Holy Land against CrusadersStuartthe royal family that ruled Scotland from 1371-1714 and ruled England from 1603 to 1649 and again from 1660 to 1714Song, Song dynasty, Sung, Sung dynastythe imperial dynasty of China from 960 to 1279; noted for art and literature and philosophyHouse of Tudor, Tudoran English dynasty descended from Henry Tudor; Tudor monarchs ruled from Henry VII to Elizabeth I (from 1485 to 1603)ValoisFrench royal house from 1328 to 1589Wei, Wei dynastyany of several imperial dynasties of China ruling from 220 to 265 and from 386 to 556House of York, Yorkthe English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white roseChou, Chou dynasty, Chow, Chow dynasty, Zhou, Zhou dynastythe imperial dynasty of China from 1122 to 221 BC; notable for the rise of Confucianism and TaoismMediciaristocratic Italian family of powerful merchants and bankers who ruled Florence in the 15th century
-
a person having kinship with another or others“he's family”synonyms: kin, kinsperson
-
a collection of things sharing a common attributetypes:grammatical category, syntactic category(grammar) a category of words having the same grammatical propertiesparadigm, substitution classthe class of all items that can be substituted into the same position (or slot) in a grammatical sentence (are in paradigmatic relation with one another)brass family(music) the family of brass instrumentsviolin family(music) the family of bowed stringed instrumentswoodwind family(music) the family of woodwind instrumentsstampa type or classsexeither of the two categories (male or female) into which most organisms are divideddeclensiona class of nouns or pronouns or adjectives in Indo-European languages having the same (or very similar) inflectional formsconjugationa class of verbs having the same inflectional formsdenominationa class of one kind of unit in a system of numbers or measures or weights or moneyhistocompatibility complexa family of fifty or more genes on the sixth human chromosome that code for proteins on the surfaces of cells and that play a role in the immune responsecase, grammatical casenouns or pronouns or adjectives (often marked by inflection) related in some way to other words in a sentenceform class, part of speech, word classone of the traditional categories of words intended to reflect their functions in a grammatical contextnumberthe grammatical category for the forms of nouns and pronouns and verbs that are used depending on the number of entities involved (singular or dual or plural)persona grammatical category used in the classification of pronouns, possessive determiners, and verb forms according to whether they indicate the speaker, the addressee, or a third partygender, grammatical gendera grammatical category in inflected languages governing the agreement between nouns and pronouns and adjectives; in some languages it is quite arbitrary but in Indo-European languages it is usually based on sex or animatenesstensea grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of timeparticipant role, semantic role(linguistics) the underlying relation that a constituent has with the main verb in a clausetype of:accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collectionseveral things grouped together or considered as a whole
-
(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera“sharks belong to the fish family”types:Filoviridaea family of threadlike RNA viruses that cause diseases in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys and chimpanzees)bacteria familya family of bacteriaprotoctist familyany of the families of ProtoctistaEndamoebidae, family Endamoebidaea large family of endoparasitic amebas that invade the digestive tractfish familyany of various families of fishchordate familyany family in the phylum Chordatabird familya family of warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wingsamphibian familyany family of amphibiansreptile familya family of reptilesarthropod familyany of the arthropodsmammal familya family of mammalscoelenterate familya family of coelenteratesctenophore familya family of ctenophoresworm familya family of wormsmollusk familya family of mollusksechinoderm familya family of echinodermsform family(biology) an artificial taxonomic category for organisms of which the true relationships are obscuremoss familya family of mossesliliopsid family, monocot familyfamily of flowering plants having a single cotyledon (embryonic leaf) in the seeddicot family, magnoliopsid familyfamily of flowering plants having two cotyledons (embryonic leaves) in the seed which usually appear at germinationfungus familyincludes lichen familiesplant familya family of plantsfern familyfamilies of ferns and fern alliesBacillaceae, family Bacillaceaetypically rod-shaped usually Gram-positive bacteria that produce endosporesPseudomonodaceae, family Pseudomonodaceaerod-shaped Gram-negative bacteria; include important plant and animal pathogensThiobacteriaceae, family Thiobacteriaceaefree-living coccoid to rod-shaped bacteria that derive energy from oxidizing sulfur or sulfur compoundsBacteroidaceae, family Bacteroidaceaefamily of bacteria living usually in the alimentary canal or on mucous surfaces of warm-blooded animals; sometimes associated with acute infective processesCorynebacteriaceae, family Corynebacteriaceaea large family of mostly Gram-positive and aerobic and nonmotile rod-shaped bacteria of the order EubacterialesEnterobacteriaceae, family Enterobacteriaceaea large family of Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria of the order EubacterialesRickettsiaceae, family Rickettsiaceaemicroorganism resembling bacteria inhabiting arthropod tissues but capable of causing disease in vertebratesMycoplasmataceae, family Mycoplasmataceaepleomorphic Gram-negative nonmotile microorganism similar to both viruses and bacteria; parasitic in mammalsMyxobacteriaceae, Polyangiaceae, family Myxobacteriaceae, family Polyangiaceaebacteria living mostly in soils and on dungMicrococcaceae, family Micrococcaceaespherical or elliptical usually aerobic eubacteria that produce yellow or orange or red pigment; includes toxin-producing forms as well as harmless commensals and saprophytesLactobacillaceae, Lactobacteriaceae, family Lactobacillaceae, family Lactobacteriaceaelactic acid bacteria and important pathogens; bacteria that ferment carbohydrates chiefly into lactic acidSpirochaetaceae, family Spirochaetaceaelarge coarsely spiral bacteria; free-living in fresh or salt water or commensal in bodies of oystersLaminariaceae, family Laminariaceaelarge family of marine brown algae including many economically important large kelps chiefly of northern watersChlamydomonadaceae, family Chlamydomonadaceaegreen algae some of which are colored red by hematochromeCyprinodontidae, family Cyprinodontidaelarge family of small soft-finned fishes; killifishes; flagfishes; swordtails; guppiesCetorhinidae, family Cetorhinidaein some older classifications considered the family of the basking sharksCarchariidae, Odontaspididae, family Carchariidae, family Odontaspididaesand sharks; in some classifications coextensive with family CarcharhinidaeCarcharhinidae, family Carcharhinidaelargest family of living sharks; found worldwide especially in tropical waters; dorsal fin lacks spines: requiem sharks including tiger sharks and soupfin sharksFringillidae, family Fringillidaefinches: goldfinches; bullfinches; chaffinches; siskins; canaries; cardinals; grosbeaks; crossbills; linnets; buntingsTyrannidae, superfamily TyrannidaeNew World tyrant flycatchers most numerous in Central America and South America but also in the United States and CanadaTurdidae, family Turdidaethrushes; in some classifications considered a subfamily (Turdinae) of the family MuscicapidaeSylviidae, family Sylviidaein some classifications considered a subfamily (Sylviinae) of the family Muscicapidae: Old World (true) warblers; American kinglets and gnatcatchersMimidae, family Mimidaesometimes considered a subfamily of Troglodytidae: mockingbirds; catbirds; thrashersAcanthisittidae, Xenicidae, family Acanthisittidae, family Xenicidaealternative names for the family comprising the New Zealand wrensPlethodontidae, family Plethodontidaesmall mostly terrestrial New World salamanders having neither lungs nor gills as adultsLeptodactylidae, family LeptodactylidaeNew World frogs; in some classifications essentially coextensive with the family BufonidaeBrevicipitidae, Microhylidae, family Brevicipitidae, family Microhylidaenarrow-mouthed toads and sheep frogs; some burrow and some are arboreal; found worldwideXenopodidae, family Xenopodidaein some classifications the family of the genus Xenopus which is otherwise included in the family PipidaeCaeciliadae, Caeciliidae, family Caeciliadae, family Caeciliidaecoextensive with the order Gymnophiona: legless amphibiansChamaeleonidae, Chamaeleontidae, Rhiptoglossa, family Chamaeleonidae, family Chamaeleontidae, family RhiptoglossaOld World chameleons; in some classifications they are considered a superfamily of SauriaIchthyosauridae, family Ichthyosauridaelater ichthyosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous; widely distributed in both hemispheresPythoninae, subfamily PythoninaeOld World boas: pythons; in some classifications considered a separate family from BoidaePythonidae, family Pythonidaein some classifications a family separate from Boidae comprising Old World boasNumididae, Numidinae, subfamily Numididae, subfamily Numidinaeguinea fowl and related birds of Africa and MadagascarAnatidae, family Anatidaeswimming birds having heavy short-legged bodies and bills with a horny tip: swans; geese; ducksDasyuridae, family Dasyuridae, family Dasyurinaedasyures; native cats; pouched mice; banded anteaters; Tasmanian devilsCestidae, family Cestidaecoextensive with the order Cestida; ctenophores having a greatly flattened and elongated bodyBranchiobdellidae, family Branchiobdellidaesmall annelid worms with the posterior end modified into an adhesive sucker; especially formerly regarded as modified leechesTerebellidae, family Terebellidaemarine burrowing or tube-forming polychete worms usually having long thick bodiesSpirulidae, family Spirulidaecoextensive with the genus Spirula; included in the order Belemnoidea in some older classificationsSquillidae, family Squillidaecrustaceans that burrow in mud or under stones in shallow water along the seashoreScolopacidae, family Scolopacidaesandpiper family: sandpipers; woodcocks; snipes; tattlers; curlews; godwits; dowitchersAlcidae, family Alcidaeweb-footed diving seabirds of northern seas: auks; puffins; guillemots; murres; etc.Hyperodontidae, Ziphiidae, family Hyperodontidae, family Ziphiidaebeaked whales; in some especially former classifications included in the family PhyseteridaeDugongidae, family Dugongidaea family of mammals of order Sirenia including dugongs and Steller's sea cowPhyllostomatidae, Phyllostomidae, family Phyllostomatidae, family PhyllostomidaeNew World leaf-nosed batsVespertilionidae, family Vespertilionidaethe majority of common bats of temperate regions of the worldIpidae, Scolytidae, family Ipidae, family Scolytidaelarge family of bark-boring or wood-boring short-beaked beetles; very destructive to forest and fruit treesMuscoidea, superfamily Muscoideatwo-winged flies especially the families: Muscidae; Gasterophilidae; Calliphoridae; TachinidaePsychodidae, family Psychodidaevery small two-winged flies with hairy wings that develop in moss and damp vegetable matter: sand fliesAndrenidae, family Andrenidaea large family of solitary short-tongued bees most of which burrow in the groundHalictidae, family Halictidaea family of small solitary bees; many are valuable pollinators for agricultureVespidae, family Vespidaean arthropod family of the order Hymenoptera including: yellow jackets; hornets; mason waspsChalcidae, Chalcididae, family Chalcidae, family Chalcididaean arthropod family including: chalcidfliesRhinotermitidae, family Rhinotermitidaelarge widely distributed family of termites of temperate to tropical regionsGerridae, Gerrididae, family Gerridae, family Gerrididaean arthropod family that includes water stridersJassidae, family Jassidaefamily of small leafhoppers coextensive with the Cicadellidae and not distinguished from it in some classificationsPsocidae, family Psocidaea family of small soft-bodied insects that feed on decaying vegetation; related to bookliceRaphidiidae, family Raphidiidaea family of arthropods of the suborder Megaloptera, including snakefliesSatyridae, family Satyridaea widely distributed family of butterflies common near the edges of woodsLycaenidae, family Lycaenidaefamily of small usually brilliantly colored butterflies; males have short forelegsSaturniidae, family Saturniidaeimportant and widely distributed family of moths including some of the largest insects knownMuroidea, superfamily Muroideaa superfamily of rodents essentially equal to the suborder Myomorpha but with the Dipodidae excludedMuridae, family Muridaeoriginally Old World rats now distributed worldwide; distinguished from the Cricetidae by typically lacking cheek pouchesCricetidae, family Cricetidaemostly small New World rodents including New World mice and lemmings and voles and hamstersHeteromyidae, family Heteromyidaesmall New World burrowing mouselike rodents with fur-lined cheek pouches and hind limbs and tail adapted to leaping; adapted to desert conditions: pocket mice; kangaroo mice; kangaroo ratsSciuridae, family Sciuridaea mammal family of true squirrels including: ground squirrels; marmots; chipmunks; flying squirrels; spermophilesBovinae, subfamily Bovinaeterm not used technically; essentially coextensive with genus Bos: cattle; buffalo; and sometimes includes kuduMustelidae, family Mustelidaeweasels; polecats; ferrets; minks; fishers; otters; badgers; skunks; wolverines; martensPongidae, family Pongidaeusually considered as comprising orangutans; gorillas; chimpanzees; and sometimes gibbonsHylobatidae, family Hylobatidaeused in some classifications for the lesser apes (gibbons and siamangs); sometimes considered a subfamily of PongidaeCercopithecidae, family CercopithecidaeOld World monkeys: guenon; baboon; colobus monkey; langur; macaque; mandrill; mangabey; patas; proboscis monkeyPlatyrrhini, superfamily PlatyrrhiniNew World monkeys: capuchin; douroucouli; howler monkey; saki; spider monkey; squirrel monkey; titi; uakari; woolly monkey; marmoset; tamarinTupaiidae, family Tupaiidaetree shrews; in some classifications tree shrews are considered prosimian primatesLorisidae, family Lorisidaeslow-moving omnivorous nocturnal primates of tropical Asia; usually taillessAiluropodidae, family Ailuropodidaein some classifications considered the family comprising the giant pandasAnguillidae, family Anguillidaeeels that live in fresh water as adults but return to the sea to spawnCoregonidae, family Coregonidaesoft-finned fishes comprising the freshwater whitefishes; formerly included in the family SalmonidaeArgentinidae, family Argentinidaesmall marine soft-finned fishes with long silvery bodies; related to salmons and troutsChlorophthalmidae, family Chlorophthalmidaesmall family of soft-finned bottom-dwellers with large eyes; relatives of lizardfishesOsteoglossidae, family Osteoglossidaea family of large fishes that live in freshwater; includes bandfish and bonytonguesAntennariidae, family Antennariidaefrogfishes; tropical spiny-finned marine fishes having large nearly vertical mouths; related to toadfishes and anglersBelonidae, family Belonidaeferocious fishes of warm regions resembling but unrelated to the freshwater garsHemiramphidae, family Hemiramphidaehalfbeaks; marine and freshwater fishes closely related to the flying fishes but not able to glideTrichodontidae, family Trichodontidaetwo species of elongate compressed scaleless large-eyed fishes that live in sand or mudPriacanthidae, family Priacanthidaesmall carnivorous percoid fishes found worldwide in tropical seasEcheneididae, family Echeneidae, family Echeneididaefishes having a sucking disk on the head for clinging to other fishes and to shipsCarangidae, family Carangidaelarge family of narrow-bodied marine food fishes with widely forked tails; chiefly of warm seasCharacidae, family Characidaetropical freshwater fishes of Africa and South America and Central AmericaSciaenidae, family Sciaenidaewarm-water marine fishes including the drums and grunts and croakers and sea troutSphyraenidae, family Sphyraenidaemonotypic family of large active fishes of tropical and subtropical waters: barracudaKatsuwonidae, family Kasuwonidaein some classifications considered a separate family comprising the oceanic bonitosSillaginidae, family Sillaginidaesmall family of small food fishes in shallow waters of the Pacific around IndonesiaTriglidae, family Triglidaein some classifications restricted to the gurnards and subdivided into the subfamilies Triglinae (true sea robins) and Peristediinae (armored sea robins)Triglinae, subfamily Triglinaein some classifications considered a subfamily of Triglidae comprising searobins having ordinary scales and no barbels (true searobins)Peristediinae, subfamily Peristediinaein some classifications considered a subfamily of Triglidae comprising the armored searobinsDicranaceae, family Dicranaceaemosses having costate leaves and long-stalked capsules with cleft peristomeMniaceae, family Mniaceaefamily of erect mosses with club-shaped paraphyses and the hexagonal cells of the upper leaf surface; sometimes treated as a subfamily of BryaceaeMarchantiaceae, family Marchantiaceaeliverworts with prostrate and usually dichotomously branched thalliSphaerocarpaceae, family Sphaerocarpaceaeliverworts with bilaterally symmetrical gametophytes; sometimes placed in the order Jungermannialesgymnosperm familya family of gymnospermsliliid monocot familyfamily of monocotyledonous plants of the subclass Liliidae; mostly herbs usually with petaloid sepals and petals and compound pistilsmagnoliid dicot familyfamily of dicotyledonous flowering plants regarded as among the most primitive of extant angiospermshamamelid dicot familyfamily of mostly woody dicotyledonous flowering plants with flowers often unisexual and often borne in catkinscaryophylloid dicot familyfamily of relatively early dicotyledonous plants including mostly flowersdilleniid dicot familyfamily of more or less advanced dicotyledonous trees and shrubs and herbsasterid dicot familyfamily of more or less advanced dicotyledonous herbs and some trees and shrubsrosid dicot familya family of dicotyledonous plantsLeitneriaceae, corkwood family, family Leitneriaceaecoextensive with the genus Leitneria; commonly isolated in a distinct orderApocynaceae, dogbane family, family Apocynaceaechiefly tropical trees or shrubs or herbs having milky juice and often showy flowers; many are sources of drugsAcoraceae, subfamily Acoraceaeused in some classifications for the genus Acorus which is usually assigned to AraceaeAristolochiaceae, birthwort family, family Aristolochiaceaefamily of birthworts (including wild ginger)Hydnoraceae, family Hydnoraceaea family of flowering plants in Africa and Argentina that are parasitic on the roots of other plantsCampanulaceae, bellflower family, family Campanulaceaefamily of plants of the order Campanulales; in some classifications includes LobeliaceaeOrchidaceae, family Orchidaceae, orchid familyenormous cosmopolitan family of perennial terrestrial or epiphytic plants with fleshy tubers or rootstocks and unusual flowersBurmanniaceae, family Burmanniaceaefamily of chiefly tropical herbs with basal leaves like bracts and small flowersPrimulaceae, family Primulaceae, primrose familya dicotyledonous family of the order Primulales with a regular flower; widely distributed in the northern hemisphereMyrsinaceae, family Myrsinaceae, myrsine familyfamily of Old World tropical trees and shrubs; some in FloridaPlumbaginaceae, family Plumbaginaceae, leadwort family, sea-lavender familyperennial herbs and shrubs and lianas; cosmopolitan especially in saltwater areasTheophrastaceae, family Theophrastaceaefamily of mainly tropical American trees and shrubs similar to those of the Myrsinaceae; often included in the MyrsinaceaeGraminaceae, Gramineae, Poaceae, family Graminaceae, family Gramineae, family Poaceae, grass familythe grasses: chiefly herbaceous but some woody plants including cereals; bamboo; reeds; sugar canePandanaceae, family Pandanaceae, screw-pine familyfamily of woody plants of the order Pandanales including pandanusTyphaceae, cattail family, family Typhaceaeperennial marsh plants with creeping rootstocks and long linear leavesCucurbitaceae, family Cucurbitaceae, gourd familya family of herbaceous vines (such as cucumber or melon or squash or pumpkin)Goodenia family, Goodeniaceae, family Goodeniaceaea family of sappy plants that grow in Australasia and southeast ChinaLobeliaceae, family Lobeliaceae, lobelia familynot recognized in all classification systems; in some classifications lobeliaceous plants are included in family CampanulaceaeProteaceae, family Proteaceae, protea familylarge family of Australian and South African shrubs and trees with leathery leaves and clustered mostly tetramerous flowers; constitutes the order ProtealesGentianaceae, family Gentianaceae, gentian familychiefly herbaceous plants with showy flowers; some are cultivated as ornamentalsSalvadora family, Salvadoraceae, family Salvadoraceaea family of Old World shrubs and trees of order Gentianales; related to Oleaceae but having four stamens and four petalsOleaceae, family Oleaceae, olive familytrees and shrubs having berries or drupes or capsules as fruits; sometimes placed in the order Oleales: olive; ash; jasmine; privet; lilacJuglandaceae, family Juglandaceae, walnut familytrees having usually edible nuts: butternuts; walnuts; hickories; pecansCombretaceae, combretum family, family Combretaceaea family of tropical trees and shrubs of the order MyrtalesHaloragaceae, Haloragidaceae, family Haloragaceae, family Haloragidaceae, water-milfoil familya family of dicotyledonous plants of the order MyrtalesLythraceae, family Lythraceae, loosestrife familyherbs and shrubs and small trees with pink or purple flowersNyssaceae, family Nyssaceae, sour-gum family, tupelo familya family of dicotyledonous trees of order Myrtales that includes the sour gum treesRhizophoraceae, family Rhizophoraceae, mangrove familytrees and shrubs that usually form dense jungles along tropical seacoastsThymelaeaceae, daphne family, family Thymelaeaceaefamily of trees and shrubs and herbs having tough bark that are found especially in Australia and tropical AfricaTrapaceae, family Trapaceaefamily comprising solely the genus Trapa; in some classifications treated as a subfamily or tribe of the family OnagraceaeMarantaceae, arrowroot family, family Marantaceaetropical perennial herbs with usually starchy rhizomesStrelitziaceae, family Strelitziaceae, strelitzia familywoody plants with erect stems of tropical South America and South Africa and Madagascar; in some classifications included in the family MusaceaeZingiberaceae, family Zingiberaceae, ginger familya family of tropical monocotyledonous plants of order MusalesUrticaceae, family Urticaceae, nettle familya family of plants of order Urticales including many nettles with stinging hairsCannabidaceae, family Cannabidaceae, hemp familytwo genera of erect or twining herbs that are pollinated by the wind, including the genera Cannabis and Humulus; term not used in all classifications; in some the genus Cannabis is placed in the family Moraceae and the genus Humulus in the family UrticaceaeMoraceae, family Moraceae, mulberry familytrees or shrubs having a milky juice; in some classifications includes genus CannabisUlmaceae, elm family, family Ulmaceaea dicot family of the order Urticales including: genera Ulmus, Celtis, Planera, TremaMenyanthaceae, buckbean family, family Menyanthaceaea dicotyledonous family of marsh plants of order GentianalesArecaceae, Palmaceae, Palmae, family Arecaceae, family Palmaceae, family Palmae, palm familychiefly tropical trees and shrubs and vines usually having a tall columnar trunk bearing a crown of very large leaves; coextensive with the order PalmalesPlantaginaceae, family Plantaginaceae, plantain familycosmopolitan family of small herbs and a few shrubs; most are troublesome weedsPolygonaceae, buckwheat family, family Polygonaceaea family of plants of order Polygonales chiefly of the north temperate zone; includes the buckwheatsXyridaceae, family Xyridaceae, yellow-eyed grass familyplants of tropical to temperate regions; usually in wet placesCommelinaceae, family Commelinaceae, spiderwort familylarge widely distributed family of chiefly perennial herbs or climbers: spiderwortsBromeliaceae, family Bromeliaceae, pineapple familya family of tropical American plants of order Xyridales including several (as the pineapple) of economic importanceEriocaulaceae, family Eriocaulaceae, pipewort familychiefly tropical aquatic or bog herbs: pipewortsNaiadaceae, Najadaceae, family Naiadaceae, family Najadaceae, naiad familymonotypic family of aquatic plants having narrow leaves and small flowersAlismataceae, family Alismataceae, water-plantain familyperennial or annual aquatic or marsh plantsHydrocharidaceae, Hydrocharitaceae, family Hydrocharidaceae, family Hydrocharitaceae, frog's-bit family, frogbit familysimple nearly stemless freshwater aquatic plants; widely distributedPotamogetonaceae, family Potamogetonaceae, pondweed familyplants that grow in ponds and slow streams; sometimes includes family ZosteraceaeJuncaginaceae, Scheuchzeriaceae, arrow-grass family, family Juncaginaceae, family Scheuchzeriaceaea family of monocotyledonous bog herbs of order NaiadalesZannichelliaceae, family Zannichelliaceaealternative classification for some genera included in Potamogetonaceae; one speciesZosteraceae, eelgrass family, family Zosteraceaeused in some classifications: essentially equivalent to PotamogetonaceaeAmygdalaceae, family Amygdalaceaeused in former classifications for plum and peach and almond trees which are now usually classified as members of the genus PrunusErythroxylaceae, family Erythroxylaceaea family of plants of order Geraniales; have drupaceous fruitSapindaceae, family Sapindaceae, soapberry familychiefly tropical New and Old World deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs bearing leathery drupes with yellow translucent flesh; most plants produce toxic saponinsCelastraceae, family Celastraceae, spindle-tree family, staff-tree familytrees and shrubs and woody vines usually having bright-colored fruitsAceraceae, family Aceraceae, maple familya family of trees and shrubs of order Sapindales including the maplesAnacardiaceae, family Anacardiaceae, sumac familythe cashew family; trees and shrubs and vines having resinous (sometimes poisonous) juice; includes cashew and mango and pistachio and poison ivy and sumacHippocastanaceae, family Hippocastanaceae, horse-chestnut familytrees having showy flowers and inedible nutlike seeds in a leathery capsuleStaphylaceae, bladdernut family, family Staphylaceaea family of dicotyledonous plants of order Sapindales found mostly in the north temperate zoneEbenaceae, ebony family, family Ebenaceaefruit and timber trees of tropical and warm regions including ebony and persimmonSapotaceae, family Sapotaceae, sapodilla familytropical trees or shrubs with milky juice and often edible fleshy fruitStyracaceae, family Styracaceae, storax family, styrax familya widely distributed family of shrubs and trees of order EbenalesGrossulariaceae, family Grossulariaceae, gooseberry familyin some classifications considered a part of the family Saxifragaceae: plants whose fruit is a berryBoraginaceae, borage family, family Boraginaceaea widely distributed family of plants distinguished by circinate flowers and nutlike fruitConvolvulaceae, family Convolvulaceae, morning-glory familymorning glory; bindweed; sweet potato; plants having trumpet-shaped flowers and a climbing or twining habitLentibulariaceae, bladderwort family, family Lentibulariaceaecarnivorous aquatic or bog plants: genera Utricularia, Pinguicula, and GenliseaMartyniaceae, family Martyniaceaein most classifications not considered a separate family but included in the PedaliaceaeOrobanchaceae, broomrape family, family Orobanchaceaebrown or yellow leafless herbs; sometimes placed in the order ScrophularialesOsmundaceae, family Osmundaceaelarge family of ferns widely distributed in temperate and tropical areasOphioglossaceae, family Ophioglossaceaea family of succulent ferns of order Ophioglossales; cosmopolitan in distributionErysiphaceae, family Erysiphaceaefamily of fungi parasitic mostly on leaves; includes powdery mildewsSphaeriaceae, family Sphaeriaceaeparasitic fungi having globose and sometimes necked or beaked peritheciaHypocreaceae, family Hypocreaceaefamily of fungi having brightly colored fleshy or membranous ascocarps; sometimes placed in its own order HypocrealesSclerodermataceae, family Sclerodermataceaea family of fungi or order Sclerodermatales with a single-layered peridium; includes earthballsRhizopogonaceae, family Rhizopogonaceaea family of fungi of order Hymenogastrales having round subterranean sporophoresMucoraceae, family Mucoraceaelarge family of chiefly saprophytic fungi that includes many common molds destructive to food productsEntomophthoraceae, family Entomophthoraceaemostly parasitic lower fungi that typically develop in the bodies of insectsAlbuginaceae, family Albuginaceaefungi that produce white sori resembling blisters on certain flowering plantsPythiaceae, family Pythiaceaefungi having sporangia usually borne successively and singly at the tips of branching sporangiophoresPlasmodiophoraceae, family Plasmodiophoraceaefamily of fungi often causing hypertrophy in seed plantsTuberaceae, family Tuberaceaefamily of fungi whose ascocarps resemble tubers and vary in size from that of an acorn to that of a large appleUsneaceae, family Usneaceaefruticose lichens having prostrate or erect or pendulous thalli: genera Usnea, Evernia, Ramalina, AlectoriaLepiotaceae, family Lepiotaceaea family of fungi having free gills and a cap that is cleanly separable from the stalkSaccharomycetaceae, family Saccharomycetaceaefamily of fungi comprising the typical yeasts: reproduce by budding and ferment carbohydratesSchizosaccharomycetaceae, family Schizosaccharomycetaceaea family of fungi belonging to order EndomycetalesHelvellaceae, family Helvellaceaefamily of false morels or lorchels; some are edible and some are poisonousPhallaceae, family Phallaceaea family of fungi belonging to the order Phallales and comprising the true stinkhornsLycoperdaceae, family Lycoperdaceaea fungus family belonging to the order Lycoperdales; includes puffballsSphaerobolaceae, family Sphaerobolaceaemonotypic family of fungi in which the more or less spherical gleba is forcibly ejected at maturitySecotiaceae, family Secotiaceaea family of fungi that have a stalk and cap and a wrinkled mass of tissue (the gleba) where spores are produced; are often dismissed as misshapen forms of other fungiPolyporaceae, family Polyporaceaefungi that become corky or woody with age, often forming shelflike growths on treesFistulinaceae, family Fistulinaceaea family of fungi closely related to the family Polyporaceae except that the tubes on the undersurface of the cap are separate from each otherBoletaceae, family Boletaceaefamily of fleshy fungi having the germ pores easily separating from the cup and often from each otherTremellaceae, family Tremellaceaea family of basidiomycetous fungi of the order Tremellales that have the basidium divided longitudinallyDacrymycetaceae, family Dacrymycetaceaea family of basidiomycetous fungi belonging to the order Tremellales having a bifurcate basidium that lacks septaTilletiaceae, family Tilletiaceaea family of smut fungi having a simple promycelium bearing the spores in an apical clusterSeptobasidiaceae, family Septobasidiaceaea family of fungi belonging to the subdivision BasidiomycotaHygrophoraceae, family Hygrophoraceaea family of fungi belonging to the order Agaricales; the gills of these fungi have a clean waxy appearanceMoniliaceae, family Moniliaceaefamily of imperfect fungi having white or brightly colored hyphae and spores that are produced directly on the mycelium and not aggregated in fruiting bodiesRhamnaceae, buckthorn family, family Rhamnaceaetrees and shrubs usually thorny bearing drupaceous fruit many having medicinal valueVitaceae, Vitidaceae, family Vitaceae, grapevine familya family of vines belonging to order RhamnalesPiperaceae, family Piperaceae, pepper familytropical woody vines and herbaceous plants having aromatic herbage and minute flowers in spikeletsSaururaceae, family Saururaceae, lizard's-tail familyfamily of perennial aromatic herbs: genera Saururus, Anemopsis, HouttuyniaParkeriaceae, family Parkeriaceaecoextensive with the genus Ceratopteris; sometimes included in family PolypodiaceaePolypodiaceae, family Polypodiaceaeferns: a large family that in some classification systems has been subdivided into several families (including Aspleniaceae and Blechnaceae and Davalliaceae and Dennstaedtiaceae and Dryopteridaceae and Oleandraceae and Pteridaceae)Adiantaceae, family Adiantaceaeused in some classification systems for some genera of the family Polypodiaceae (or Pteridaceae)Vittariaceae, family Vittariaceaeone of a number of families into which Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systems: genus VittariaAspleniaceae, family Aspleniaceaeone of a number of families into which Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systems; includes genera Asplenium, Pleurosorus, SchaffneriaBlechnaceae, family Blechnaceaeone of a number of families into which the family Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systems; includes genera Blechnum, Doodia, Sadleria, Stenochlaena, and WoodwardiaDavalliaceae, family Davalliaceaeone of a number of families into which Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systemsDennstaedtiaceae, family Dennstaedtiaceaeone of a number of families into which Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systemsDicksoniaceae, family Dicksoniaceaetree ferns: genera Dicksonia, Cibotium, Culcita, and Thyrsopteris elegansAthyriaceae, Dryopteridaceae, family Athyriaceae, family Dryopteridaceaealternative names for one of a number of families into which the family Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systemsOleandraceae, family Oleandraceaeone of a number of families into which Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systemsPteridaceae, family Pteridaceaeone of a number of families into which the family Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systems; Pteridaceae is itself in turn sometimes further subdividedMarattiaceae, family Marattiaceaeconstituting the order Marattiales: chiefly tropical eusporangiate ferns with gigantic frondsPsilotaceae, family Psilotaceaesmall family of lower ferns having nearly naked stems and minute scalelike leavesEquisetaceae, family Equisetaceae, horsetail familysole surviving family of the Equisetales: fern alliesLepidodendraceae, family Lepidodendraceaefossil plants characterized by conspicuous spirally arranged leaf scars on the trunkLycopodiaceae, clubmoss family, family Lycopodiaceaea family of ferns belonging to the order LycopodialesSelaginellaceae, family Selaginellaceaelesser club mosses: terrestrial chiefly tropical plants resembling mossesCryptogrammataceae, family Cryptogrammataceaeone of a number of families into which the family Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systemsAsclepiadaceae, family Asclepiadaceae, milkweed familywidely distributed family of herbs and shrubs of the order Gentianales; most with milky juicetype of:
-
a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activitiessynonyms: crime syndicate, mob, syndicatetypes:Cosa Nostra, Maffia, Mafiaa crime syndicate in the United States; organized in families; believed to have important relations to the Sicilian Mafiatype of:
-
an association of people who share common beliefs or activities“the message was addressed not just to employees but to every member of the company family”synonyms: fellowshiptypes:koinoniaChristian fellowship or communion with God or with fellow Christians; said in particular of the early Christian communitytype of:associationa formal organization of people or groups of people
Pronunciation
US
UK
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘family'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
Vocabulary lists containing family
It's All in the Family
Be a kindred spirit by learning this list of vocabulary related to family.
Chemistry - High School
You'll be in your element when you review these terms related to chemistry. Learn about chemical reactions, atoms and molecules, phases of matter, and much more. This list is just the catalyst you need to improve your chemistry vocabulary.