maternaladjective/mɐtɨɾˈnal/mediumma·ter·nalPortuguesEnglishEspanolFrancaisDefinitionRelating to or characteristic of a mother; motherly.She felt a strong maternal urge to protect the child.His aunt provided a maternal presence in his life.synmotherlymaternalantpaternalCommon collocationsmaternal lovematernal instinctmaternal carematernal figureEtymologyDo latim 'maternalis'.Related wordsmaternidadematernomãematernizar