family
noun uk/ˈfæm.əl.i/ us/ˈfæm.əl.i/
(SOCIAL GROUP)
A1 [ C or U + sing/pl verb ]家，家庭
a group of people who are related to each other, such as a mother, a father, and their children
A new family has/have moved in next door. 隔壁新搬来一户人家。
I come from a large family - I have three brothers and two sisters. 我来自一个大家庭，有三个兄弟，两个姐妹。
He doesn't have any family. 他没有任何亲人。
He's American but his family (= relatives in the past) come/comes from Ireland. 他是美国人，但他的祖籍是爱尔兰。
This movie is good family entertainment (= something that can be enjoyed by parents and children together). 这部电影是很棒的家庭娱乐片。
How do you like family life (= being married, having children, etc.)? 你对家庭生活还满意吗？
B1 [ C usually singular, U + sing/pl verb ]子女
the children of a family
Women shouldn't have to choose between career and family (= having children). 在事业与家庭之间，女人不应该只能选择其一。
Paul and Ana are hoping to start a family (= have children) soon. 保罗和安娜期待着不久能生个小孩。
My dad died when we were small so my mum raised the family on her own. 我们很小的时候爸爸就去世了，因此是妈妈一个人拉扯大了孩子。
[ C, + sing/pl verb ]一窝（动物）
a pair of adult animals and their babies
We've got a family of squirrels living in our garden. 我们的花园里住着一窝松鼠。
- More examples
- Peter's success at college delighted his family.
- He read her letter aloud to the rest of the family.
- She values her job above her family.
- There were scenes of great joy as the hostages were re-united with their families.
- Several families take in foreign students.
(BIOLOGICAL GROUP)
[ C ] biology specialized（动植物的）科
a large group of related types of animal or plant
The lion is a member of the cat family. 狮子属猫科。
Plant crops from the same family close together.
- More examples
- Pecans come from the same family as the hickory.
- Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts are all in the brassica family.
Idiom
be in the family wayidiom old-fashioned informal 怀孕
to be pregnant