dictionary.ptmaternaladjectivegeneral usecommon/mɐtɨɾˈnal/ma·ter·nalPortuguêsEnglishEspañolFrançaisDefinition1Relating to or characteristic of a mother; motherly.Usage examples“She felt a strong maternal urge to protect the child.”“His aunt provided a maternal presence in his life.”SynonymsmotherlymaternalAntonymspaternalCommon combinationsmaternal lovematernal instinctmaternal carematernal figure
Relating to or characteristic of a mother; motherly.Usage examples“She felt a strong maternal urge to protect the child.”“His aunt provided a maternal presence in his life.”SynonymsmotherlymaternalAntonymspaternalCommon combinationsmaternal lovematernal instinctmaternal carematernal figure