cherub

[ cher-uhb ]

noun

, plural cher·ubs cher·u·bim [cher, -, uh, -bim, -y, oo, -bim]

1. (in the Bible) a celestial being.
2. Theology. a member of the second order of angels, often represented as a beautiful rosy-cheeked child with wings.
3. a beautiful or innocent person, especially a child.
4. a person, especially a child, with a sweet, chubby, innocent face.

cherub

/ tʃəˈruːbɪk; ˈtʃɛrəb /

noun

1. theol a member of the second order of angels, whose distinctive gift is knowledge, often represented as a winged child or winged head of a child
2. an innocent or sweet child

Derived Forms

• cheˈrubically, adverb
• cherubic, adjective

Other Words From

• che·ru·bic [ch, uh, -, roo, -bik], che·rubi·cal adjective
• cherub·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cherub¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, from Hebrew kərūbh; replacing Middle English cherubin, Old English c(h)erubin, cerubim (all singular), from Latin cherūbim, from Greek, from Hebrew kərūbhīm (plural)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cherub¹

Old English, from Hebrew kěrūbh

Example Sentences

Adriana Bottino-Poage is 6 years old, with cherub cheeks and curls that bounce when she laughs.

From Washington Post

Nearby, plump kidneys churn out requests for water and salt—twin cherubs of the torso.

From Popular-Science

The haul came from 10 pieces that mostly feature winged cherubs called “war nymphs,” some of which sold thousands of copies.

From Ozy

Miley Cyrus morphed from cherub-faced Disney tween into raunchy twerker.

From The Daily Beast

The little 17-year-old Russian cherub lutzed and salchowed like she was born for that expressed purpose.

From The Daily Beast

With fair skin boosting the expressiveness of her big blue eyes, Kazan resembles a slightly more cherub-faced Jennifer Connelly.

From The Daily Beast

The film opened with two African cherub babies playing in the dirt.

From The Daily Beast

The child actress, now 15, has gone from a dimpled cherub to an undead evildoer in New Moon.

From The Daily Beast

Therefore God alone is responsible for the acts the man performs in obedience to the cherub's orders.

From Project Gutenberg

So I want you to fit up this roof of the kitchen exactly in the way you arranged the garden on the roof at Cherub Court.

From Project Gutenberg

A decided case of 'up aloft': he looks quite the cherub, does he not?

From Project Gutenberg

But from the limit whence the cherub continueth not the imp began.

From Project Gutenberg

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house.

From Project Gutenberg