baby

The word “baby” means a very young child, from birth until walking and talking begin. In plain terms, a very young child or animal — or, informally, a term of endearment, a pet project, or something small of its kind.

“Baby” is pronounced BAY-bee (/ˈbeɪ̯.bi/ in IPA).

Here is “baby” used in a sentence: “The baby slept through the entire flight.”

Words with a similar meaning to “baby” include babe, babby, babbie, infant, bab and babber.

Depending on how it is used, “baby” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

“Baby” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Baby” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very young child, from birth until walking and talking begin.

A baby is a very young child from birth until they begin walking and talking, usually the first year of life. A toddler is the next stage, roughly one to three years old, named for the unsteady 'toddling' walk. The move from baby to toddler is marked by first steps and first words.

The two overlap and are often used interchangeably. 'Infant' is the more formal or medical term, common in health and legal contexts, while 'baby' is the everyday word. 'Newborn' refers to the first weeks specifically. All describe a child in the earliest stage of life, before toddlerhood.

Because a baby is something small, loved, and cared for, the word extends warmly to a partner or loved one — 'baby' as a term of endearment. It can also mean a personal project someone is proud of — 'this business is my baby.' The common thread is deep attachment and care.

By this definition, babyhood ends when a child starts walking and talking, generally around twelve to eighteen months, as they become a toddler. The boundary is gradual rather than fixed, since children develop at different rates. Affectionately, of course, a child may be called someone's baby for life.