birthrate
UK[ˈbɜːθreɪt]US[ˈbɜːrθreɪt]
n
the number of births in a particular group or area in a given time, often expressed per 1000 people per year
Morpheme Breakdown
birth
rate
birth
rate
Etymology
the word 'birthrate' is a modern english compound, formed by combining two nouns of distinct origins. 'birth' derives from the old english 'gebyrd', meaning the act of being born, which itself comes from the germanic root gaburþiz, related to 'bear' in the sense of carrying offspring. 'rate' entered english via old french 'rate' and medieval latin 'rata', meaning a fixed proportion, from latin 'ratus' meaning 'reckoned or fixed'. the compound logically fuses these concepts: the frequency ('rate') of the event of being born ('birth'). it is a transparent, descriptive term created in the demographic and statistical lexicon of the 19th century to quantify population dynamics.
Analysis
Structure: birth + rate
birth (old english, germanic) - the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring.
rate (old french, from latin rata) - a measure, quantity, or frequency, typically one measured against another.
Examples
the country's birthrate has been steadily declining for the past decade.
government policies aim to encourage a higher birthrate to address the aging population.
the study compared the birthrate in urban and rural areas.