baby

[ bey-bee ]

/ ˈbeɪ bi /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR baby ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ba·bies.

an infant or very young child.

a newborn or very young animal.

the youngest member of a family, group, etc.

an immature or childish person.

a human fetus.

Informal.

Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a girl or woman, especially an attractive one.
a person of whom one is deeply fond; sweetheart.
(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).
a man or boy; chap; fellow: He's a tough baby to have to deal with.
an invention, creation, project, or the like that requires one's special attention or expertise or of which one is especially proud.
an object; thing: Is that car there your baby?

adjective

of or suitable for a baby: baby clothes.

of or like a baby; infantile: baby skin.

small; comparatively little: a baby car.

treating babies: a baby doctor.

verb (used with object), ba·bied, ba·by·ing.

to treat like a young child; pamper.

to handle or use with special care; treat gently.

Nearby words

babu, babul, babur, babushka, babuyan islands, baby, baby beef, baby bell, baby blue, baby bond, baby bonus

Origin of baby

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at babe, -y²

SYNONYMS FOR baby

10 indulge, spoil, humor, coddle.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR baby ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ba·by·hood, nounba·by·ish, adjectiveba·by·ish·ly, adverbba·by·ish·ness, noun

ba·by·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for babied

Parents sometimes have an attitude of, “I was brought up in the school of hard knocks, no one babied me.”
How to Help Your Anxious Kid|Eliza Shapiro|May 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We babied him abominably—he was, for two years, the only subject we had for such malpractice.
Modern Essays|John Macy
Those girls have praised her and babied her until she is a good deal more infatuated with herself than she used to be.
Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore|Pauline Lester
Had she dared, she would have babied Martin to an even greater extent than she did.
The Wall Between|Sara Ware Bassett

He had been babied by his mother until he had grown to be a hateful, worthless young man, and Jean despised him.
Grace Harlowe's Problem|Jessie Graham Flower
Mrs.Robinson had always been babied by the girls, and that she was very nervous her whole family knew too well.
The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach|Margaret Penrose

British Dictionary definitions for babied

baby

/ (ˈbeɪbɪ) /

noun plural -bies

a newborn or recently born child; infant
(as modifier)baby food

an unborn child; fetus

the youngest or smallest of a family or group

a newborn or recently born animal
(as modifier)baby rabbits

usually derogatory an immature person

slang a young woman or sweetheart: often used as a term of address expressing affection

a project of personal concern

be left holding the baby to be left with the responsibility

throw the baby out with the bath water to lose the essential element by indiscriminate rejection

adjective

(prenominal) comparatively small of its typea baby car

verb -bies, -bying or -bied (tr)

to treat with love and attention

to treat (someone) like a baby; pamper or overprotect

Derived Forms

babyhood, nounbabyish, adjective

Word Origin for baby

C14: probably childish reduplication; compare mama, papa 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

baby

noun, plural ba·bies.

adjective

verb (used with object), ba·bied, ba·by·ing.

Nearby words

Origin of baby

SYNONYMS FOR baby

Related forms

Examples from the Web for babied

British Dictionary definitions for babied

baby

noun plural -bies

adjective

verb -bies, -bying or -bied (tr)

Derived Forms

Word Origin for baby

Medicine definitions for babied

baby

n.

Idioms and Phrases with babied

baby