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View synonyms for baby

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

      baby food

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

      baby rabbits

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

adjective

  1. prenominal comparatively small of its type

    a baby car

“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

verb

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

  • ˈbabyhood, noun
  • ˈbabyish, adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of baby1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; babe, -y 2
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Word History and Origins

Origin of baby1

C14: probably childish reduplication; compare mama , papa 1
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Idioms and Phrases

see throw out the baby with the bath water .
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Example Sentences

The company’s Medicare Advantage plans, which are private insurance policies, had become a profit center with the retirement wave of aging baby boomers.

A coroner said hospital bosses never told him of suspicions that a member of staff may be responsible for a number of baby deaths, an inquiry into the crimes of Lucy Letby has heard.

From BBC

“Then I found out that she had just had a baby and was living in a cabin,” Adams recalls of the director, who was then isolated with her family in rural Connecticut.

Lucy Letby has been interviewed by police in prison under caution as part of ongoing investigations into more baby deaths at two hospitals, Cheshire Constabulary has confirmed.

From BBC

“We all want justice, and it’s not going to bring our babies back.”

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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