breastfeed
|breast-feed|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈbrɛstˌfid/
🇬🇧
/ˈbrɛstˌfiːd/
feeding from the breast
Etymology
Etymology Information
'breastfeed' originates from the combination of 'breast' and 'feed', where 'breast' refers to the mammary gland and 'feed' means to give food.
Historical Evolution
'breastfeed' evolved from the Old English word 'brēostfēdan', which combined 'brēost' (breast) and 'fēdan' (to feed).
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to feed from the breast', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to feed a baby with milk directly from the breast.
She decided to breastfeed her newborn.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 2
past tense or past participle form of 'breastfeed'.
She breastfed her child for over a year.
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/22 01:27