Definition of "uncle" in Englisch

noun

1. The brother or brother-in-law of one’s parent.

2. The male cousin of one’s parent.

3. (endearing) Used as a fictive kinship title for a close male friend of one's parent or parents.

4. (euphemistic) Used as a title for the male companion to one's (usually unmarried) parent.

5. (figuratively) A source of advice, encouragement, or help.

6. (British, informal, dated) A pawnbroker.

   • 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)

7. (especially in the Southern US, parts of UK and South Asia) An affectionate term for a man of an older generation than oneself, especially a friend of one's parents, by means of fictive kin.

8. (Southern US, slang, archaic) An older African-American male.

9. (Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Brunei, informal) Any middle-aged or elderly man older than the speaker and/or listener.

interjection

1. (US, colloquial) A cry used to indicate surrender.

verb

1. (transitive, colloquial) To address somebody by the term uncle.

2. (intransitive, colloquial) To act like, or as, an uncle.