aunt

aunt · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The sister of one's father or mother.

  2. 2.

    The wife of one's uncle.

  3. 3.

    An unrelated woman who is a close friend of one's parents (informal).

Forms

plural: aunts

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    agony aunt — A person who gives advice in a newspaper column (British).
  • •
    maiden aunt — An unmarried aunt.

Related words

Antonyms: uncle
See also: family, nephew, niece, uncle
Synonyms: auntie, aunty

Etymology

From Old French ante, from Latin amita ("father's sister"). The word replaced the Old English modrige (mother's sister) and faþu (father's sister).