cherub

American  

[cher-uhb] / ˈtʃɛr əb /

noun

plural

cherubs, cherubim

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.

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cherub British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• cherubic
  adjective
• cherubical
  adjective
• cherubically
  adverb
• cherublike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cherub

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)

Explanation

You might think of a rosy-faced child as a cherub, conjuring up an image of chubby, naked angels cavorting amongst the clouds. That image comes from the most familiar use of the word, which was to name an order of angels. The image we have of a cherub, chubby-cheeked babies with wings, actually wasn't around until the Renaissance, when artists depicted the lower-order angels as children. Prior to that, the word evolved from the Hebrew kĕrūḇ, and was taken from the Aramaic kĕ-raḇyā which meant "child-like." It was this translation that encouraged the idea of a cherub as being portrayed as a child. The plural form, "cherubim" also follows the Hebrew grammar rule of creating plurals by adding the suffix -im.

Example Sentences

On a more personal level, she's finally done well enough to move into a house of her own, and acquire a rescue cat, named Cherub Lou.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2025

After an anonymous group called Free the Cherub distributed “Free the Cherub!” bumper stickers, made hundreds of calls and sent letters to local newspapers, the cherub returned that December.

From Washington Times • Sep. 5, 2020

An interview with Cherub is surrounded by music, Icaro chants, and bird sounds; the effect is, well, trippy—but also surprisingly moving.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2014

Cherub owes a considerable debt to early Prince and Zapp records.

From Chicago Tribune • Aug. 4, 2013

In a flash the Cherub was up from the bed, and between them.

From Doors of the Night by Packard, Frank L. (Frank Lucius)