virgin birth

plural virgin births · alternative Virgin Birth · alternative Virgin birth

1. countableuncountablebiologyA birth (or vegetal reproduction) after spontaneous, unfertilized gamete-development in a virginal mother, parthenogenesis.
2. countableuncountableChristianity(often capitalized and used absolutely: the Virgin Birth) The miraculous birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary.
   1. countableuncountableChristianityAny similar birth of a deity.

      1 more example

      At the moment then when Sirius, the star from the East, by coming to the Meridian at midnight signalled the Sun's new birth, the Virgin was seen just rising on the Eastern sky - the horizon line passing through her centre. And many people think that this astronomical fact is the explanation of the very widespread legend of the Virgin-birth.

      1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 31

3. countableuncountableChildbirth in which the offspring is said to have been conceived without sexual intercourse.

   Many religions and traditions have myths about a virgin birth.

   1 more example

   Oh, you never let the cat out? Then I suppose those kittens were a virgin birth.

4. countableuncountableChildbirth in which the mother conceived the child through artificial insemination.

1. ChristianityAlternative letter-case form of virgin birth.

1. ChristianityAlternative letter-case form of virgin birth.