nounπShareA person, especially a minor, both or (rarely) one of whose parents have died."After the tragic accident, the two young siblings became orphans and went to live with their aunt. "familyhumanpersonsocietyageChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA person, especially a minor, whose parents have permanently abandoned them."The school's social worker helped the orphans find foster families. "familypersonhumansocietyChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA young animal with no mother."The wildlife rescue center cares for many orphans, including baby squirrels and birds whose mothers have died. "animalfamilynatureChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareAnything that is unsupported, as by its source, provider or caretaker, by reason of the supporter's demise or decision to abandon."After the company went bankrupt, many old software programs became orphans, lacking updates and support. "familyhumansocietyaidsufferingChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA single line of type, beginning a paragraph, at the bottom of a column or page."The editor removed the orphans by adjusting the spacing on the final page, so no lonely lines started new paragraphs at the bottom. "languagewritinggrammartypeChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareAny unreferenced object."After refactoring the code, the automated garbage collector identified several orphans β objects that were no longer being used by any active part of the system. "computingtechnologyinternetChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verbπShareTo deprive of parents (used almost exclusively in the passive)"What do you do when you come across two orphaned polar bear cubs?"familyhumansocietysufferingChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verbπShareTo make unavailable, as by removing the last remaining pointer or reference to."Removing categories orphans pages from the main category tree."computingChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
