baby

[ bey-bee ]

/ ˈbeɪ bi /

SEE 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.

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 SYNONYMS FOR baby ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM baby

ba·by·hood, noun ba·by·ish, adjective ba·by·ish·ly, adverb ba·by·ish·ness, noun

ba·by·like, adjective

Words nearby baby

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

Example sentences from the Web for babyhood

The name given to her had been Clorinda, and from her babyhood she had been as tempestuous as her sisters were mild.

His Grace of Osmonde |Frances Hodgson Burnett
Lillian, with her hair as yellow as the corn, was the paleface princess stolen by the Indians in her babyhood.

Madge Morton's Trust |Amy D. V. Chalmers
Jane Brown met him in a corridor and kissed him, as, indeed, she had been in the habit of doing since her babyhood.

Love Stories |Mary Roberts Rinehart
From his babyhood days he has habituated it to his use, until it has become, as it were, a very part of his nature.

My Native Land |James Cox

Haven't we been lovers together, darling, from our babyhood upward?'

Babylon, Volume 3 (of 3) |Grant Allen

British Dictionary definitions for babyhood

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 type a 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, noun babyish, adjective

Word Origin for baby

C14: probably childish reduplication; compare mama, papa 1

Medical definitions for babyhood

baby

[ bā′bē ]

n.

A very young child; an infant.

Idioms and Phrases with babyhood

baby

see throw out the baby with the bath water.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

baby

noun, plural ba·bies.

adjective

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

Origin of baby

SYNONYMS FOR baby

OTHER WORDS FROM baby

Words nearby baby

Example sentences from the Web for babyhood

British Dictionary definitions for babyhood

noun plural -bies

adjective

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

Derived forms of baby

Word Origin for baby

Medical definitions for babyhood

n.

Idioms and Phrases with babyhood

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

baby

noun, plural ba·bies.

adjective

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

Origin of baby

SYNONYMS FOR baby

OTHER WORDS FROM baby

Words nearby baby

Words related to babyhood

Example sentences from the Web for babyhood

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for babyhood

noun plural -bies

adjective

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

Derived forms of baby

Word Origin for baby

Medical definitions for babyhood

n.

Idioms and Phrases with babyhood

British Dictionary definitions for babyhood