baby

[ bey-bee ]

noun

, plural ba·bies.

1. an infant or very young child.
2. a newborn or very young animal.
3. the youngest member of a family, group, etc.:

   I was the baby of the family for ten years, until my twin brothers were born.

4. an adult who behaves like a child; an immature, helpless, or fearful person:

   Just swallow the medicine—don't be such a baby!

5. a human fetus:

   The baby hasn’t arrived yet, but the nursery is ready.

6. Informal.
   1. Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a girl or woman, especially an attractive one.
   2. a person of whom one is deeply fond; sweetheart.
   3. (sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar address (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).
   4. a man or boy; fellow:

      He's a tough baby to have to deal with.

   5. an invention, creation, project, or the like that requires one's special attention or expertise or of which one is especially proud:

      His charitable foundation is his baby and it truly shows.

   6. an object; thing:

      Those big babies can carry a lot of cargo.

adjective

1. of or suitable for a baby:

   baby clothes.

2. of or like a baby; infantile:

   baby skin.

3. treating babies:

   a baby doctor.

   Synonyms: coddle, humor, spoil, indulge

4. small; comparatively little:

   baby eggplants.

verb (used with object)

, ba·bied, ba·by·ing.

1. to treat like a young child; pamper:

   She still babies her son although he's nearly 24.

2. to handle or use with special care; treat gently.

baby

/ ˈbeɪbɪ /

noun

1. 1. a newborn or recently born child; infant
   2. ( as modifier )

      baby food

2. an unborn child; fetus
3. the youngest or smallest of a family or group
4. 1. a newborn or recently born animal
   2. ( as modifier )

      baby rabbits

5. derogatory.
   an immature person
6. slang.
   a young woman or sweetheart: often used as a term of address expressing affection
7. a project of personal concern
8. be left holding the baby
   to be left with the responsibility
9. throw the baby out with the bath water
   to lose the essential element by indiscriminate rejection

adjective

1. prenominal comparatively small of its type

   a baby car

verb

1. to treat with love and attention
2. to treat (someone) like a baby; pamper or overprotect

Derived Forms

• ˈbabyhood, noun
• ˈbabyish, adjective

Other Words From

• ba·by·hood noun
• ba·by·ish adjective
• ba·by·ish·ly adverb
• ba·by·ish·ness noun
• ba·by·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of baby¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; babe, -y ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of baby¹

C14: probably childish reduplication; compare mama , papa ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see throw out the baby with the bath water .

Example Sentences

A baby's remains have been discovered on land near a motorway, police said.

From BBC

And last month, a woman was jailed for five years after lying about her experience and qualifications to get a job as a senior nurse in a unit for sick and premature babies.

From BBC

Unlike kids in the United States, hunter-gatherer children in the Congo Basin have often learned how to hunt, identify edible plants and care for babies by the tender age of six or seven.

From Science Daily

Figure out how many anchor flowers you’ll need, and roughly how many filler stems — such as greens, draping clusters of amaranth or smaller flowers like baby’s breath — are required to make each arrangement.

From Los Angeles Times

“We built ourselves a giant cocktail, sat on the side of the bed and cried like babies,” Mason remembers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• little
• mini
• miniature
• small