sons

Noun

son (plural sons)

1. One's male offspring.
   • Before the birth of the man's child, he said: "I want a son, not a daughter."
2. A male adopted person in relation to his adoptive parents.
3. A male person who has such a close relationship with an older or otherwise more authoritative person that he can be regarded as a son of the other person.
   • Eli called Samuel his son. Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift.1832, Noah Webster, “SON”, in A Dictionary of the English Language Intended to Exhibit the Origin of Words, the Orthography and Definitions: in Two Volumes · Volume 2
4. A male person considered to have been significantly shaped by social conflict.
   • He was a son of the mafia system.
5. A person regarded as the product of some place.
   • I hold it to be true, that the people are the sons of the soil; and we are only their instruments here.1850, Oliver P. Badger, convention member from Putnam, Indiana, Report of the Debates and Proceedings of the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution of the State of Indiana, 1850 Volume 1...
6. A familiar address to a male person from an older or otherwise more authoritative person.
   • Son, can't you see that she's just a little girl?1984, “Working on the Highway”, in Bruce Springsteen (music), Born in the U.S.A.

See all 13 meanings of son