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baby

US //ˈbeɪbi// UK //bˈeɪbi// ba·by
  1. 1 human infant (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a very young human, usually from birth until they can walk.

    a human infant, typically from birth to approximately two years of age.

    Example

    The baby slept peacefully in the crib while her parents watched a movie.

    Example

    The paediatrician noted that the baby was meeting all developmental milestones, including the ability to grasp small objects and respond to familiar voices.
  2. 2 young animal (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a very young animal.

    the young offspring of an animal, especially a vertebrate.

    Example

    The baby birds waited in the nest for their mother to bring food.

    Example

    Conservationists observed the baby elephants following the matriarch across the savannah during the seasonal migration.
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  1. 3 romantic partner (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a name you use for your boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.

    a term of endearment used to address or refer to a romantic partner.

    Example

    I'll be home late tonight, baby, so don't wait up for dinner.

    Example

    In many contemporary pop songs, the word baby is used as a generic vocative to address a lover or a person of romantic interest.
  2. 4 personal project (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a project or idea that you have created and care about very much.

    a project, concept, or organisation that one has created and treats with special care or pride.

    Example

    This new software company is his baby; he started it in his garage.

    Example

    The community garden was her baby, and she spent every weekend ensuring the irrigation system and soil quality were perfect.
  3. 5 youngest sibling (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the youngest person in a family, even if they are now an adult.

    the youngest member of a family unit, regardless of their current age.

    Example

    Even though he is thirty, he is still the baby of the family.

    Example

    As the baby of the family, she often felt she had to work harder to be taken seriously by her older brothers.
  4. 6 to treat with too much care (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to treat someone like a baby by doing too much for them.

    to treat someone with excessive care or overprotectiveness; to pamper or coddle.

    Example

    Stop babying him; he is old enough to tie his own shoes.

    Example

    The coach refused to baby the star athlete, insisting that every member of the team follow the same rigorous training schedule.

    Usage

    This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
  5. 7 small version of food (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    used to describe vegetables that are picked when they are small.

    denoting a variety of vegetable harvested before reaching full maturity.

    Example

    We served roasted baby carrots and potatoes with the main course.

    Example

    The chef preferred using baby spinach for the salad because the leaves are more tender and have a milder flavour than mature ones.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰā- Proto-Germanic *bō-redup. Proto-Germanic *babô Proto-West Germanic *babō Old English *baba Middle English babe Old English -iġ Middle English -y Middle English baby English baby From Middle English baby, babie (“baby”), a diminutive form of babe (“babe, baby”), equivalent to babe + -y/-ie (“endearing and diminutive suffix”). Perhaps ultimately imitative of baby talk (compare babble).

Idioms12 entries

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