darling

[ dahr-ling ]

/ ˈdɑr lɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR darling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person very dear to another; one dearly loved.

(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address.

a person or thing in great favor; a favorite: She was the darling of café society.

adjective

very dear; dearly loved: my darling child.

favorite; cherished.

Informal. charming; cute; lovable: What a darling baby!

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Question 1 of 7

What does "scattergood" mean?

a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.

a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.

a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.

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Origin of darling

before 900; Middle English derling,Old English dēorling.See dear¹, -ling¹

OTHER WORDS FROM darling

dar·ling·ly, adverbdar·ling·ness, noun

Words nearby darling

darktown, dark web, darky, Darlan, Darlene, darling, Darling Downs, Darling Range, Darling River, Darling's disease, Darlington

Definition for darling (2 of 2)

Darling

[ dahr-ling ]

/ ˈdɑr lɪŋ /

noun

Jay Nor·wood

[nawr-wood], /ˈnɔr wʊd/, "Ding", 1876–1962, U.S. political cartoonist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for darling

Kerry Washington - Scandal Is there room for only one Shonda Rhimes darling in Best Actress in a Drama?
15 Enraging Golden Globe TV Snubs and Surprises: Amy Poehler, 'Mad Men' & More|Kevin Fallon|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Take Joni Ernst, a GOP darling now favored to be the next senator from Iowa.
If You Think D.C. Is Awful Now, Wait Until Wednesday|Jonathan Alter|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I'm going to use it to stop all arguments in the future, about anything: "Can't make dinner tonight, darling, children might die."
Bill Maher Finds the Worst Congressman in America|Ana Marie Cox|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Darling makes it very clear that this is not just a show about a pop star, no matter how much buzz his name generates.
The Making—and Remaking—of David Bowie|Justin Jones|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

LSD, an illicit drug with a serious stigma, was once the darling of the psychotherapy world.
Psychedelics Are Ready for a Comeback|Abby Haglage|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, darling, they are humbugging you, because they were afraid lest their plan should be known.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 6|Guy de Maupassant
I could only show him where he could find help, my darling, and I do not think he cares to have me tell him.
Bessie at the Sea-Side|Joanna Mathews
Bet is such a darling, I could not bring myself to part with her.
Mollie's Prince|Rosa Nouchette Carey
Rose, darling,' he exclaimed, 'the favorite of my heart—will no one save you?'
The Ned M'Keown Stories|William Carleton
Bindlecombe clasped his hands nervously; he was acutely distressed—and not only for the threatened loss of his darling Institute.
The Great Miss Driver|Anthony Hope

British Dictionary definitions for darling (1 of 2)

darling

/ (ˈdɑːlɪŋ) /

noun

a person very much loved: often used as a term of address

a favouritethe teacher's darling

adjective (prenominal)

beloved

much admired; pleasinga darling hat

Word Origin for darling

Old English dēorling; see dear, -ling 1

British Dictionary definitions for darling (2 of 2)

Darling

/ (ˈdɑːlɪŋ) /

noun

Grace. 1815–42, English national heroine, famous for her rescue (1838) of some shipwrecked sailors with her father, a lighthouse keeper

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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darling