baby

[ bey-bee ]

/ ˈbeɪ bi /

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See synonyms for: baby / babied / babies / babying 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.: I was the baby of the family for ten years, until my twin brothers were born.

an adult who behaves like a child; an immature, helpless, or fearful person: Just swallow the medicine—don't be such a baby!

a human fetus: The baby hasn’t arrived yet, but the nursery is ready.

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; 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: His charitable foundation is his baby and it truly shows.
an object; thing: Those big babies can carry a lot of cargo.

adjective

of or suitable for a baby: baby clothes.

of or like a baby; infantile: baby skin.

treating babies: a baby doctor.

small; comparatively little: baby eggplants.

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

to treat like a young child; pamper: She still babies her son although he's nearly 24.

to handle or use with special care; treat gently.

OTHER WORDS FOR baby

9 indulge, spoil, humor, coddle.

See synonyms for baby on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of baby

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; see origin at babe, -y²

OTHER WORDS FROM baby

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. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for baby

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 of baby

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with baby

baby

see throw out the baby with the bath water.

baby

OTHER WORDS FOR baby

Origin of baby

OTHER WORDS FROM baby

Words related to baby

British Dictionary definitions for baby

Derived forms of baby

Word Origin for baby

Other Idioms and Phrases with baby