Uncle ˈʌŋkl Noun Ian Visit Maternal/Paternal Related Mother’s/Father's

• uncle ian
• i'm going to visit my uncle.
• a maternal/paternal uncle (= related through the mother’s/father's side of the family)
• i've just become an uncle (= because my brother/sister has had a baby).

uncle

1. the brother of your mother or father; the husband of your aunt
• Uncle Ian
• I'm going to visit my uncle.
• a maternal/paternal uncle (= related through the mother’s/father's side of the family)
• I've just become an uncle (= because my brother/sister has had a baby).
• Joey was like an uncle to us.
• He was the youngest son of Edward III and uncle to Richard II.
• The celebrant of the Mass was Rev. Martin Doyle, uncle of the bride.

Extra Examples

• He looks so much like his late uncle.
• The boss smiled at us all like a benevolent uncle.
• the fortune left to her by her dead uncle
• my favourite uncle
2. used by children, with a first name, to address a man who is a close friend of their parents
3. used as a polite way of addressing or referring to an older man
• The uncle who lives opposite my parents is always so warm and friendly.
4. used to say how easy and quick it is to do a particular task
• Press here and Bob's your uncle! It's disappeared.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French oncle, from late Latin aunculus, alteration of Latin avunculus ‘maternal uncle’, diminutive of avus ‘grandfather’.