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noun

lullaby

LUH-luh-beye

Lullaby (noun) means a soft, soothing song sung to help a child fall asleep. Example: “She hummed a lullaby until the baby drifted off.”

noun
1
A soft, soothing song sung to help a child fall asleep.
"She hummed a lullaby until the baby drifted off."
verb
1
To sing a lullaby to someone.
"He lullabied his daughter every night before bed."

How to use lullaby

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA gentle song for sending a child to sleep.

Common pairings
sing a lullaby

Word forms

lullabied past tense, lullabies plural, lullabies singular

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Etymology

Formed from lull plus an old interjection "bye" used to soothe children — first recorded around 1560.

· First attested 1560

Class of 1560 lullaby joined the language around 1560.
See the full Class of 1560 →
berceuse cradlesong

Related words

Rhymes for lullaby

See all rhymes for lullaby →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lullaby” mean?

The word “lullaby” means a soft, soothing song sung to help a child fall asleep. In plain terms, a gentle song for sending a child to sleep.

How do you pronounce “lullaby”?

“Lullaby” is pronounced LUH-luh-beye (/ˈlʌləbaɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “lullaby” in a sentence?

Here is “lullaby” used in a sentence: “She hummed a lullaby until the baby drifted off.”

What part of speech is “lullaby”?

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

Where does the word “lullaby” come from?

The word “lullaby” dates back to around 1560. Formed from lull plus an old interjection "bye" used to soothe children — first recorded around 1560.

How many meanings does “lullaby” have?

“Lullaby” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, soothing song sung to help a child fall asleep.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial