<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a man who begets offspring; a male parent</li><li>Often Father: one’s own male parent: When we were kids, Father read to us regularly. My father is visiting us next week.</li><li>a father-in-law, stepfather, foster father, male adoptive parent, or male guardian</li><li>Usually Father: a term of address for a male parent or a man having or regarded as having the status, function, or authority of a male parent: How are you, Father?</li><li>any male ancestor, especially the founder of a family or line; progenitor</li><li>a man providing care or exercising influence or authority like that of a male parent: The late professor was a father to all his students.</li><li>the qualities characteristic of a father, such as paternal affection, protectiveness, responsibility, etc.: He had been quite a rake, but his newborn daughter quickly brought out the father in him.</li><li>a man who has originated or established something: Freud is often called the father of modern psychology. The founding fathers of America took care to separate church and state.</li><li>an early form; forerunner or prototype: The horseless carriage was the father of the modern automobile.</li><li>one of the most well-known or prominent men in a city, town, etc.: There was a scandal involving several of the city fathers.</li><li>Chiefly British: the oldest living or serving member of a society, profession, etc.</li><li>a title for something personified as an older or elderly man: Father Time.</li><li>a term of familiar address for an old or elderly man. Often the Father.</li><li>Theology: the Supreme Being; God.</li><li>Christianity: the first person of the Trinity. Also called church father.</li><li>Church History: any of the chief early Christian writers, whose works are the main sources for the history, doctrines, and observances of the church in the early ages.</li><li>Ecclesiastical: Usually Father: a title of reverence, as for church dignitaries, officers of monasteries, monks, confessors, and especially priests. Often Father.</li><li>fathers, Roman History: conscript fathers.</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>being a male parent: The father penguin rests the egg on his feet and covers it with a fold of warm skin.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) to beget; be the father of: He fathered seven children over three marriages.</li><li>to be the male creator, founder, or author of; originate.</li><li>to care for or protect like a father; act paternally toward: He’s always fathering me and checking the oil in my car. After Dad died, my uncle fathered my brother and me.</li><li>Archaic: to acknowledge oneself the father or originator of: He would only father the novel if it became popular.</li><li>Archaic: to assume as one's own; take the responsibility of.</li><li>Archaic: to charge someone with the begetting of: Do not try to father the boy on me.</li><li>(used without object) to perform the tasks or duties of a male parent; act paternally: He fathers like he’s been doing it for years, though his kid is only three months old.</li></ul>