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
3
slang
a :  girl, woman —often used in address
b :  boy, man —often used in address
4
:  person, thing <is one tough baby>
ba·by·hood \-bē-ˌhd\ noun
ba·by·ish \-ish\ adjective
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Origin of BABY

Middle English, from babe
First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with BABY

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>

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>

First Known Use of BABY

1744

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>.
BABY 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

Definition of BABY for Kids

1
:  1young 1 <a baby deer>
2
:  very small <Take baby steps.>

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-ˌhd\ noun
ba·by·ish \-ish\ adjective
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