baby
BAY-bee
Baby (noun) means a very young child, from birth until walking and talking begin. Example: “The baby slept through the entire flight.”
noun
1
A very young child, from birth until walking and talking begin.
"The baby slept through the entire flight."
"They're expecting their first baby in the spring."
"The baby giggled whenever her father pulled a funny face."
2
The youngest member of a family, regardless of their actual age.
"Even at forty, she's still the baby of the family."
"As the baby of the team, he got the smallest desk."
"My brother is the baby in our family, so he gets away with everything."
3
An affectionate way to address a romantic partner.
"Hey baby, I'll be home in ten minutes."
"Don't worry, baby, we'll fix the car together tomorrow."
"Thanks for dinner, baby, it was delicious."
4
A project or idea someone feels strongly protective of because they created it.
"The app was his baby — he'd spent three years building it."
"This garden is her baby, and she checks it every morning."
"The festival was the director's baby from the very first idea."
adj
1
Small or young, especially describing produce picked early or a smaller version of something.
"The salad came with baby spinach and baby carrots."
"We planted baby tomatoes in small pots by the window."
"The shop sells baby corn and baby potatoes in the same pack."
verb
1
To treat someone with excessive care or indulgence, as if they were a small child.
"Stop babying him — he can tie his own shoes."
"Her parents still baby her whenever she comes home for the weekend."
"You can't baby the new staff forever, because they must learn by doing."
How to use baby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very young child or animal — or, informally, a term of endearment, a pet project, or something small of its kind.
Common mistake
As a term of address ("hey, baby") it's informal and can come across as overly familiar or old-fashioned in professional settings.
Common pairings
have a baby
baby steps
baby someone
baby corn
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Word forms
- Plural
- babies
- Third person singular
- babies
- Past tense
- babied
- Comparative
- babier, babyer, baby-er
- Superlative
- babiest, babyest, baby-est
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ slept through the entire flight.
Etymology
A diminutive form of the older English word "babe," probably imitating the sounds a baby makes (compare "babble").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for baby
See all rhymes for baby →Frequently asked questions
What does “baby” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “baby”?
“Baby” is pronounced BAY-bee (/ˈbeɪ̯.bi/ in IPA).
How do you use “baby” in a sentence?
Here is “baby” used in a sentence: “The baby slept through the entire flight.”
What is another word for “baby”?
Words with a similar meaning to “baby” include babe, babby, babbie, infant, bab and babber.
What part of speech is “baby”?
Depending on how it is used, “baby” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Is “baby” a common word?
“Baby” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “baby” have?
“Baby” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very young child, from birth until walking and talking begin.
What is the difference between a baby and a toddler?
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.
What is the difference between a baby and an infant?
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.
Why is baby also used as a term of affection?
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.
At what age does a baby stop being a baby?
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.
Example sentences
Sentences with a source are quoted from published work. Any opinions in them are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
She started the diet with baby steps: one small change a week rather than everything at once.
The app was his baby — he'd built the first version alone over a single summer.
The baby slept through most of the flight, to everyone's relief.
He signed the email "love you, baby" without thinking twice.
At family dinners she's still treated as the baby, even at thirty-two.
Swipe right on the names you like and left on the ones you don't, and when you and your partner have both kept the same one, it shows up as a match.
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