1. a social unit living together; - Example: "he moved his family to Virginia" - Example: "It was a good Christian household" - Example: "I waited until the whole house was asleep" - Example: "the teacher asked how many people made up his home" [syn: family, household, house, home, menage]
2. primary social group; parents and children; - Example: "he wanted to have a good job before starting a family" [syn: family, family unit]
3. a collection of things sharing a common attribute; - Example: "there are two classes of detergents" [syn: class, category, family]
4. people descended from a common ancestor; - Example: "his family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower" [syn: family, family line, folk, kinfolk, kinsfolk, sept, phratry]
5. a person having kinship with another or others; - Example: "he's kin" - Example: "he's family" [syn: kin, kinsperson, family]
6. (biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera; - Example: "sharks belong to the fish family"
7. a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities; [syn: syndicate, crime syndicate, mob, family]
8. an association of people who share common beliefs or activities; - Example: "the message was addressed not just to employees but to every member of the company family" - Example: "the church welcomed new members into its fellowship" [syn: family, fellowship]