Child n.; pl. Children
 1. A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; -- in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and plants.
 2. A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.
 3. One who, by character of practice, shows signs of relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one closely connected with a place, occupation, character, etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the devil; a child of disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the people.
 4. A noble youth. See Childe. [Obs.]
 5. A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc.
    When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.   --1. Cor.  xii. 11.
 6. A female infant. [Obs.]
    A boy or a child, I wonder?   --Shak.
 To be with child, to be pregnant.
 Child's play, light work; a trifling contest.