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

“My dream is that every woman will be able to bring a baby into the world calmly and gently,” she told the Globe.

From Washington Post

My baby right now, the thing that I fight every single day for actively, is the Equal Rights Amendment, which is written by Alice Paul in the early 1900s.

From Ozy

They are most famously made from bright blue fleece, or, in the company’s new “sherpa” line, baby blue and lilac, and they seem pretty flammable.

From Eater

The new mom and dad created an online photo album, sent out invitations to everyone to join and view it, and they add many baby photos daily.

From Washington Post

At first, they look like a mobile above a baby’s crib or playful sculptures in the vein of Alexander Calder.

From Washington Post

How about baby drama with little Abijean and the Wee Baby Seamus?

From The Daily Beast

He has wild swings between trying not to care about Lana and the baby, and being completely obsessed by it.

From The Daily Beast

The pale, baby-faced, red-cheeked rapper is furiously puffing away at a hastily-made blunt crammed with low-grade weed.

From The Daily Beast

Three months ago, the two had a baby together and the Internet mostly just shrugged.

From The Daily Beast

At present, not every woman is young enough, fertile enough, or healthy enough to have a baby using her own eggs or her own womb.

From The Daily Beast

Aristide replaced the baby, and with a complicated arrangement of string fastened it securely to the seat.

From Project Gutenberg

She had carried the baby over to Juana's and left her there, that she might be free to serve the Father's supper.

From Project Gutenberg

Keep closely covered with a bell glass and, in a few weeks, more or less, the baby Ferns will start to put in an appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a fearsome thing for a man to be left alone in the dead of night with a young baby.

From Project Gutenberg

The man with the automobile, the corn-cure, and the baby grew to be legendary in the villages of Provence.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• little
• mini
• miniature
• small