cherub

[ cher-uh b ]
/ ˈtʃɛr əb /

noun, plural cher·ubs for 3, 4; cher·u·bim [cher-uh-bim, -yoo-bim] /ˈtʃɛr ə bɪm, -yʊ bɪm/ for 1, 2.

a celestial being. Gen. 3:24; Ezek. 1, 10.
Theology. a member of the second order of angels, often represented as a beautiful rosy-cheeked child with wings.
a beautiful or innocent person, especially a child.
a person, especially a child, with a sweet, chubby, innocent face.

Origin of cherub

before 900; Middle English < Latin < Greek < Hebrew kərūbh; replacing Middle English cherubin, Old English c(h)erubin, cerubim (all singular) < Latin cherūbim < Greek < Hebrew kərūbhīm (plural)

OTHER WORDS FROM cherub

che·ru·bic [chuh-roo-bik] /tʃəˈru bɪk/, che·ru·bi·cal, adjective cher·ub·like, adjective

Words nearby cherub

cherry-red spot myoclonus syndrome, cherrystone, chersonese, chert, chertsey, cherub, cherubfish, cherubic, cherubicon, cherubim, cherubini

Words related to cherubim

baby, seraph

Example sentences from the Web for cherubim

British Dictionary definitions for cherubim

cherub
/ (ˈtʃɛrəb) /

noun plural cherubs or cherubim (ˈtʃɛrəbɪm, -ʊbɪm)

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
an innocent or sweet child

Derived forms of cherub

cherubic (tʃəˈruːbɪk) or cherubical, adjective cherubically, adverb

Word Origin for cherub

Old English, from Hebrew kěrūbh

Cultural definitions for cherubim

cherubim
[ (chair-uh-bim, chair-yuh-bim) ]

sing. cherub

One of the groups of the angels.

notes for cherubim

God is often described in the Old Testament as sitting on a throne supported by cherubim.

notes for cherubim

In the art of the Renaissance, cherubim (or cherubs) are depicted as chubby babies with wings. Hence, a person with a chubby, childlike face may be called “cherubic.”