baby

2 syllables · also babied

Quick answer

As a noun, baby means a very young human, particularly from conception or birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered. As an adjective, it means picked when small and immature (as in baby corn, baby potatoes).

Meanings of baby

24 meanings

noun

A very young human, particularly from conception or birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered.
Any very young animal, especially a vertebrate; many species have specific names for their babies, such as kittens for the babies of cats, puppies for the babies of dogs, and chicks for the babies of birds. See Category:Baby animals for more.
Unborn young; a fetus.
“When is your baby due?”
A person who is immature, infantile or feeble.
“Stand up for yourself – don't be such a baby!”
A person who is new to or inexperienced in something.
“I only qualified as an architect this summer, so I'm still a baby.”
The lastborn of a family; the youngest sibling, irrespective of age.
“Adam is the baby of the family.”
A person's romantic partner.
A term of endearment used to refer to or address one's girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse.
“Too busy thinking about my baby, and I ain't got time for nothing else.”
“Baby, don't cry.”
informalA form of address to a person considered to be attractive.
“Hey baby, what are you doing later?”
A concept or creation endeared by its creator.
“This test program I've designed is my new baby.”
A pet project or responsibility.
“You need to talk to John about that – it's his baby.”
An affectionate term for anything.
“See my new car here? I can't wait to take this baby for a drive.”
often attributiveOne who is new to an identity or community.
A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talkperson
“the baby began to cry again”
“she held the baby in her arms”
“it sounds simple, but when you have your own baby it is all so different”
Similar: babe, infant

Older and rare meanings (1)

archaicA small image of an infant; a doll.

adjective

of vegetablesetc.Picked when small and immature (as in baby corn, baby potatoes).
Newest (overall, or in some group or state), most inexperienced.
in the comparativesuperlativeLike or pertaining to a baby, in size or youth; small, young.

verb

To coddle; to pamper somebody like an infant.
To tend (something) with care; to be overly attentive to (something), fuss over.
Treat with excessive indulgence
“grandparents often pamper the children”
“Let's not mollycoddle our students!”
Similar: pamper, featherbed, cosset, cocker, coddle, mollycoddle