baby

Related Forms · Synonyms · Synonyms · Synonyms · Usage Examples

baby Definition

baby (bā′bē)

noun pl. -·bies

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

Etymology: ME babi, dim.: see babe

adjective

of or for an infant baby food
extremely young
small of its kind
infantile or childish

transitive verb -·bied, -·by·ing

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

baby Related Forms

ba′·by·hood′ noun ba′·by·ish adjective ba′·by·ishly adverb

baby Synonyms

baby

modif.

Infantile
youthful, babyish, juvenile; see childish 1.
Small
diminutive, miniature, tiny; see little 1.

baby Synonyms

baby

n.

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.
The youngest or smallest of a group
junior, youngest, the baby of the family*; see sense 1.
A beginner
learner, novice, apprentice; see amateur.
A timid or helpless person
crybaby, coward, sissy*, wimp*; see coward, weakling.

baby Synonyms

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.

baby Usage Examples

Converse of object

bear: Why are babies born with a cleft lip or cleft palate?
breastfeed: A newborn breastfed baby will use up to ten diapers in a 24hr period.

Adjective modifier

newborn: End in sight for Harray baby saga A tragic chapter in the short lives of three newborn babies could draw to a close soon.
unborn: Genetic defects At present there are no set guidelines on testing for genetic defects in unborn babies.
premature: Neurology Cerebral hemorrhage is relatively common in premature babies.
new-born: Retention of urine in new-born babies due to shock of fast labor.

Modifies a noun

boomer: To wall street baby boomers are between the highest increase your awareness.
gift: Our luxurious range of traditional baby gift baskets & personalized gifts will bring a smile to any child's face.
toy: The company's 2003 catalog also features 34 new baby toys, including eight additions to the popular Whoozit® line.
clothes: Britney to design baby clothes Britney Spears is planning to launch her own designs in baby clothes in a career comeback.
blanket: Sponsored by http://www.shopzilla.co.uk Baby Blankets Buy baby blankets at shop.com, the new way to shop.
sitter: My sister Sue and her then hubby, Mik had gone out for the night leaving us as very unprofessional baby sitters.

Noun used with modifier

jelly: Jelly Babies are dusted with white powdery stuff aren't they?
breech: Ironically we had even said we would feel safe in her hands if a situation such as a breech baby arose!
birthweight: We have also made great strides in reducing the number of low birthweight babies born in the city.
test-tube: Doctors remove eggs from the woman's body and fertilize them with sperm in the laboratory - hence the term ' test-tube baby ' .

Preposition: in

womb: A baby in the womb gets everything from its mother.
manger: In Luke Mary puts her new born baby in a manger because there was no room for them to lodge in the house.
sling: In many cultures, carrying a baby in a sling is the natural choice for infant transportation.

Preposition: with

colic: Surviving a baby with colic truly deserves an award of some sort.

Browse dictionary entries near baby

‹ babushka
‹ Babur
‹ babul
‹ babu
‹ baboon
‹ babka
‹ Babism
‹ babirusa
‹ babies' breath
‹ babiche