childhoodchild•hood /'tʃaɪldhʊd/

n C,U

1. 童年；儿童时代

• She had a happy childhood. 她有一个快乐的童年。

• early-childhood education 幼儿教育

• the joys of childhood 童年的快乐

2. (事物发展的)早期

• in the childhood of the civilization of ancient China 在古代中国文明的早期