n, pl  -lies  1  :  the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their own or adopted children : also  :  any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family <a single-parent >   2  :  a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usu. comprising several to many genera family adj 
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:   female 
 
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