Meaning & Definition of word "Baby"

Baby

/ˈbeɪ.bi/

noun:

  • 1. A very young child, especially one less than a few months old.
    • Example: The baby was sleeping peacefully in her crib.
  • 2. An infant; a newborn or very young child.
    • Example: She brought her baby to the park for fresh air.
  • 3. A term of endearment or affection for a loved one.
    • Example: He called her baby to express his love.

verb:

  • 1. To treat someone or something as a baby; to pamper.
    • Example: Don't baby him too much; he needs to learn to be independent.

Etymology

Late Middle English, from an alteration of 'babee', likely influenced by 'babe'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

baby steps:

Small incremental progress towards a goal.

baby boom:

A significant increase in birth rates.

run baby run:

A phrase encouraging someone to hurry, often used playfully.

Related Words

infant:

A child in the earliest period of life, especially before they can walk.

toddler:

A young child, typically one between the ages of one and three years old.

newborn:

A child that is just born.

Slang Meanings of baby

Meaning: Used affectionately to refer to someone you care about, often in a romantic sense.

Example Sentence: Hey, baby, how was your day?

Meaning: Can refer to someone acting overly sensitive or whiny.

Example Sentence: Stop being such a baby and just go for it!

Meaning: In certain contexts, refers to a situation or thing that is brand new or very recent.

Example Sentence: This gadget is so cool, it’s the baby of the tech world right now.