First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1baby
noun ba·by \ˈbā-bē\
: a very young child
: a very young animal
: the youngest member of a group
plural babies
Full Definition of BABY
1
a (1) : an extremely young child; especially : infant (2) : an extremely young animal b : the youngest of a group
2
a : one that is like a baby (as in behavior) b : something that is one's special responsibility, achievement, or interest
See baby defined for English-language learners
See baby defined for kids
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Origin of BABY
Middle English, from babe
2baby
adjective
: very small : much smaller than usual
Full Definition of BABY
1
: of, relating to, or being a baby
2
: much smaller than the usual <baby carrots> <a baby flattop> <take two baby steps>
See baby defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BABY
1591
3baby
verb
: to treat (someone) like a baby : to be kind or too kind to (someone)
: to operate or treat (something) in a very careful and gentle way
ba·biedba·by·ing
Full Definition of BABY
transitive verb
1
: to tend to indulge with often excessive or inappropriate care and solicitude <babying their only child>
2
: to use or treat with care <babying a sore knee>
See baby defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BABY
1744
Related to BABY
Synonym Discussion of BABY
indulge, pamper, humor, spoil, baby, mollycoddle mean to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings. indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires <indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse>. pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect <pampered by the amenities of modern living>. humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims <humored him by letting him tell the story>. spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering <foolish parents spoil their children>. baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude <babying students by grading too easily>. mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare <refused to mollycoddle her malingering son>.
BABIED Defined for Kids
1baby
noun ba·by \ˈbā-bē\
plural babies
Definition of BABY for Kids
1
: a very young child
2
: a very young animal
3
: the youngest of a group
4
: a childish person <“After all, Meg, we aren't … kids any more. Why do you always act like such a baby?” — Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time>
— ba·by·ish \ˈbā-bē-ish\ adjective
2baby
adjective
3baby
verb
ba·biedba·by·ing
Definition of BABY for Kids
: to treat as a baby : to be overly kind to <He's 15. Stop babying him.>
Medical Dictionary
baby
noun ba·by \ˈbā-bē\
plural babies
Medical Definition of BABY
1
: an extremely young child; especially : infant
2
: an extremely young animal
—baby adjective
—ba·by·hood \-bē-ˌhu̇d\ noun
—ba·by·ish \-ish\ adjective
Learn More About BABY
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