Tennessee Code Title 37. Juveniles § 37-10-201

(1) “Child” means any person under twenty-one (21) years of age;

(2) “Missing child” means a child who is believed to have been removed by force, persuasion, trick, enticement, false pretense, has voluntarily left the custody of such child's parent without permission or is absent for unexplained or unknown reasons; and

(3) “Parent” means a natural or adoptive parent, guardian, or person or organization standing in a loco parentis position by virtue of an order of a court.