maternal: Meaning and Definition of
ma•ter•nal
Pronunciation: (mu-tûr'nl), [key]
— adj.
- of, pertaining to, having the qualities of, or befitting a mother: maternal instincts.
- related through a mother: his maternal aunt.
- derived from a mother: maternal genes.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.