# baby

/ˈbeɪbi/ (US) · /bˈeɪbi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/baby
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 1. human infant

noun · CEFR A1

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

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

- The baby slept peacefully in the crib while her parents watched a movie.
- The paediatrician noted that the baby was meeting all developmental milestones, including the ability to grasp small objects and respond to familiar voices.

### 2. young animal

noun · CEFR A2

a very young animal.

For teachers: the young offspring of an animal, especially a vertebrate.

- The baby birds waited in the nest for their mother to bring food.
- Conservationists observed the baby elephants following the matriarch across the savannah during the seasonal migration.

### 3. romantic partner

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

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

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

- I'll be home late tonight, baby, so don't wait up for dinner.
- In many contemporary pop songs, the word baby is used as a generic vocative to address a lover or a person of romantic interest.

### 4. personal project

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- This new software company is his baby; he started it in his garage.
- The community garden was her baby, and she spent every weekend ensuring the irrigation system and soil quality were perfect.

### 5. youngest sibling

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- Even though he is thirty, he is still the baby of the family.
- As the baby of the family, she often felt she had to work harder to be taken seriously by her older brothers.

### 6. to treat with too much care

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 7. small version of food

adjective · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: denoting a variety of vegetable harvested before reaching full maturity.

- We served roasted baby carrots and potatoes with the main course.
- The chef preferred using baby spinach for the salad because the leaves are more tender and have a milder flavour than mature ones.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.