noun
cherub
CHEH-ruhb
noun
1
In art, a chubby winged child or baby's head with wings, often used to represent an angel.
"The ceiling fresco was covered in painted cherubs."
2
A child, or person, seen as especially sweet, innocent, or angelic-looking.
"Their new baby looked like a little cherub asleep in the pram."
3
In religious texts, a high-ranking type of angel described very differently from the artistic image — often as a strange, powerful winged being.
"The Bible describes cherubim guarding the throne of God."
How to Use Cherub
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly pictured as a cute winged baby in paintings, though the original religious meaning describes a far more imposing kind of angel.
Common pairings
cherubic face
little cherub
cherub statue
Word Forms
cherubs plural, cherubim plural, cherubims plural, cherubin plural
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Etymology
From Hebrew keruv via Greek and Latin into Old English. The word's meaning shifted a lot over the centuries — the plump winged babies familiar from Renaissance art are a much later, softer image than the original biblical descriptions.