Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈʌŋ.kl̩/
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ˈʌŋ.kəl
Noun
The brother or brother-in-law of one’s parent.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed.
The male cousin of one’s parent.
Used as a fictive kinship title for a close male friend of one's parent or parents.
Usage- endearing
Used as a title for the male companion to one's (usually unmarried) parent.
Usage- euphemistic
A source of advice, encouragement, or help.
Usage- Figurative
A pawnbroker.
Usage- UK usage
- Dated
- Informal
- Examples
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More examples (1)
December 1843, William Makepeace Thackeray, "Grant in Paris" (review), in Fraser's Magazine A chain hangs out of the pocket of his velvet waistcoat , by which we may conclude that he has a watch , though we have known many gents whose watches were at their uncle's (as the fashionable term for the pawnbroker goes)
An affectionate term for a man of an older generation than oneself, especially a friend of one's parents, by means of fictive kin.
Usage- especially
- in the Southern US
An older African-American male.
Usage- Southern-US
- Archaic
- Slang
- Examples
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Plain old uncle as he [Socrates] was, with his great ears, — an immense talker.
Any middle-aged or elderly man older than the speaker and/or listener.
Usage- Brunei
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Informal
Interjection
A cry used to indicate surrender.
Usage- US usage
- Colloquial
Verb
To address somebody by the term uncle.
Usage- Colloquial
- Transitive
To act like, or as, an uncle.
Usage- Colloquial
- Intransitive
- Examples
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Betelgeuse Five, where he both fathered and uncled Ford
Noun
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
- Antonyms
- Broader terms
a source of help and advice and encouragement
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he played uncle to lonely students