German
1 of 4noun (1)
Ger·man ˈjər-mən 
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Germany
b
: a person of German descent
c
: one whose native language is German and who is a native of a country other than Germany
2
a
: the Germanic language spoken mainly in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland
b
: the literary and official language of Germany
3
: a member of any of the Germanic peoples inhabiting western Europe in Roman times
4
often not capitalized
a
: a dance consisting of intricate figures that are improvised and intermingled with waltzes
b
chiefly Midland US : a dancing party
specifically : one at which the german is danced
German
2 of 4adjective (1)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Germany, the Germans, or German
german
3 of 4adjective (2)
ger·man ˈjər-mən
: having the same parents or the same grandparents on either the maternal or paternal side —usually used after the noun which it modifies and joined to it by a hyphen
brother-germancousin-german
german
4 of 4noun (2)
obsolete
: a near relative
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Medieval Latin Germanus, from Latin
Adjective (2)
Middle English germain, from Anglo-French, from Latin germanus having the same parents, from germen
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Adjective (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Adjective (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing German
Kids Definition
German 1 of 2
noun
Ger·man ˈjər-mən
1
: a person born or living in Germany
2
: the language spoken mainly in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland
German
2 of 2adjective
: of or relating to Germany, the Germans, or the German language