1. [n]  a young person of either sex (between birth and puberty); "she writes books for children"; "they're just kids"; "`tiddler' is a British term for youngsters"
2. [n]  a human offspring (son or daughter) of any age; "they had three children"; "they were able to send their kids to college"
3. [n]  an immature childish person; "he remained a child in practical matters as long as he lived"; "stop being a baby!"
4. [n]  a member of a clan or tribe; "the children of Israel"

1. \Child\ (ch[imac]ld), n.; pl. {Children}
   (ch[i^]l"dr[e^]n). [AS. cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth.
   kil[thorn]ei womb, in-kil[thorn][=o] with child.]
   1. A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the
      first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; --
      in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and
      plants.
   
   2. A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural;
      as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.
   
   3. One who, by character of practice, shows signs of
      relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one
      closely connected with a place, occupation, character,
      etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the devil; a child of
      disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the people.
   
   4. A noble youth. See {Childe}. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
   
   5. A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and
      youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a
      very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness,
      limited understanding, etc.
   
            When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood
            as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became
            a man, I put away childish things.    --1. Cor. xii.
                                                  11.
   
   6. A female infant. [Obs.]
   
            A boy or a child, I wonder?           --Shak.
   
   {To be with child}, to be pregnant.
   
   {Child's play}, light work; a trifling contest.
   
   

2. \Child\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Childed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Childing}.]
   To give birth; to produce young.
   
         This queen Genissa childing died.        --Warner.
   
         It chanced within two days they childed both.
                                                  --Latimer.
   
   

daughter

This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Gen. 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1 Kings 3:7).

The descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, "the children of Edom," "the children of Moab," "the children of Israel."

In the earliest times mothers did not wean their children till they were from thirty months to three years old; and the day on which they were weaned was kept as a festival day (Gen. 21:8; Ex. 2:7, 9; 1 Sam. 1:22-24; Matt. 21:16). At the age of five, children began to learn the arts and duties of life under the care of their fathers (Deut. 6:20-25; 11:19).

To have a numerous family was regarded as a mark of divine favour (Gen. 11:30; 30:1; 1 Sam. 2:5; 2 Sam. 6:23; Ps. 127:3; 128:3).

Figuratively the name is used for those who are ignorant or narrow-minded (Matt. 11:16; Luke 7:32; 1 Cor. 13:11). "When I was a child, I spake as a child." "Brethren, be not children in understanding" (1 Cor. 14:20). "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro" (Eph. 4:14).

Children are also spoken of as representing simplicity and humility (Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). Believers are "children of light" (Luke 16:8; 1 Thess. 5:5) and "children of obedience" (1 Pet. 1:14).