paternal UK [pə'tɜ:.nəl] US [-'tɝ:-] adjective ■of or like a father 父亲的;父亲般的•He's very paternal (= showing the affectionate feelings of a father) - it's lovely to see him with the baby.他这个做父亲的很有爱心——看他和宝宝在一起真是其乐无穷。 •My paternal grandparents (= My father's parents) were Irish.我的祖父母是爱尔兰人。 Compare maternal |