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baby definition

baby (bā′bē)

noun pl. babies -·bies

  1. a very young child; infant
  2. a person who behaves like an infant; helpless or timid person
  3. a very young animal
  4. the youngest or smallest in a group
  5. ☆ Slang darling; honey: often a casual term of address
  6. ☆ Slang any person or thing this car is a tough baby to drive

Etymology: ME babi, dim.: see babe

adjective

  1. of or for an infant baby food
  2. extremely young
  3. small of its kind
  4. infantile or childish

transitive verb babied -·bied, babying -·by·ing

  1. to treat like a baby; pamper; coddle
  2. Informal to handle with great care to baby a new car

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms baby idiom

medical baby definition - medical

baby Synonyms

baby

modif.

  1. Infantile

    youthful, babyish, juvenile; see childish 1.

  2. Small

    diminutive, miniature, tiny; see little 1.


baby

n.

  1. An infant

    infant, newborn, babe, nursling, suckling, babe in arms, neonate, preemie*, child*, toddler*, tot*, youngling*, brat*, bairn*, young one, little one, papoose*, bambino (Italian), enfant (French), kid*, cherub*, pledge of love*, little stranger*, little newcomer*, (little) accident*, bundle from heaven*, bundle of joy*, another mouth to feed*; see also child.

    Antonyms adult, adolescent, grown-up.

  2. The youngest or smallest of a group

    junior, youngest, the baby of the family*; see sense 1.

  3. A beginner

    learner, novice, apprentice; see amateur.

  4. A timid or helpless person

    crybaby, coward, sissy*, wimp*; see coward, weakling.


baby

v.

pamper, coddle, pet, spoil, dandle, nurse, cherish, foster, cuddle, make much of, cosset, humor, indulge, mollycoddle; see also humor. See syn. study at humor.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

baby Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • breastfeed: A newborn breastfed baby will use up to ten diapers in a 24hr period.

Modifies a noun

  • boomer: To wall street baby boomers are between the highest increase your awareness.

Noun used with modifier

  • breech: Ironically we had even said we would feel safe in her hands if a situation such as a breech baby arose!

Preposition: in

  • womb: A baby in the womb gets everything from its mother.

Preposition: with

  • colic: Surviving a baby with colic truly deserves an award of some sort.
baby usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

baby quotes

Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle-shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

-Alexander, Cecil Frances

When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.

-Barrie, SirJ(ames) M(atthew)

And is it true? And is it true, This most tremendous tale of all, Seen in a stained-glass window's hue, A Baby in an ox's stall? The Maker of the stars and sea Become a Child on earth for me?

-Betjeman, SirJohn

baby quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"baby." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/baby>

APA Style

baby. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/baby

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