darling
n. countable B1 Intermediate US //ˈdɑɹɫɪŋ// UK //dˈɑːlɪŋ// dar·ling
n. a person you love very much, like a partner or a child. You use this as a kind name when talking to them or about them.
n. a term of endearment used to address or refer to a person for whom one feels affection. Often used as a vocative to signal intimacy or familiarity.
Goodnight, darling, I will see you in the morning.
She called out to her husband, asking if her darling had remembered to pick up the dry cleaning.
The letter was addressed to his 'dearest darling,' a sentimental opening that contrasted sharply with the formal, almost cold tone of the subsequent paragraphs.
Usage
Frequently used as a vocative (a word used to address someone directly) without an article.