the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother
the quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother;
"the girl's motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children"
例句
用作名词(n.)
It weighs upon the woman, that is to say , upon grace, weakness, beauty, maternity.它压迫妇女，就是说压迫柔情，压迫弱质，压迫美貌，压迫母性。
To date,sports bras have largely been ungainly,with all the functional trappings of a maternity bra and little more in the way of stylish design.此前，运动胸衣总的来说不太优雅，有母性胸衣的种种功能性装饰，却缺少时髦的设计。
The pregnant woman looked forward to her maternity.孕妇期待着做母亲。
Maternity ward is on the second floor.产科病房在二楼。
Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。
用作形容词(adj.)
What's this company's policy on maternity leave?这公司的产假规定为何?
It's just that maternity clothes are so expensive.没什么,就是孕妇服实在太贵。
