birthing

B3I1R1T1H4I1N1G2
US/ˈbɝθ.ɪŋ/UK/ˈbɜːθ.ɪŋ/US/ˈbɝð.ɪŋ/UK/ˈbɜːð.ɪŋ/

noun

The act of giving birth.

Similar
parturitionbirthgiving birth
OriginEnglish birth ← Middle English birthe ← Old Norse burðr →
Less commonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nounbirthing (plural birthings)

plural birthings

  1. attributiveoftenThe act of giving birth.
  2. alternativenauticalAlternative spelling of berthing.
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of birth

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe process of giving birth

Similar
parturitionbirthgiving birth
Broader
organic processbiological process
Also see
birthconfinementgiving birthparturition

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰértis
  3. Proto-Germanic*burþiz
  4. Old Norseburðr
  5. Middle Englishbirthe
  6. Englishbirth
  7. Englishbirthing

From birth + -ing.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

birthing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/birthing

MLA

“birthing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/birthing. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “birthing,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/birthing.

Source: birthing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.