26984 words

babies

18 definitions • 40 examples
1
a very young child, especially one that has not yet begun to walk or talk:

Examples:

have a baby Sandra had a baby on 29 May.
a newborn baby
a six-week-old baby
baby clothes
baby food
2
a very young animal:

Examples:

You should never get between a mother bear and her baby.
How many babies does a rat usually have?
3
an adult or an older child who is crying or behaving like a young child:

Examples:

It didn't hurt that much - don't be such a baby!
4
the youngest or smallest member of a group:

Examples:

the baby of Owen is the baby of the family.
At 57, Young is the baby of the bunch.
With a population of less than 1,500, the island is the baby of the group.
5
a word you can use when you are talking to someone you love such as your wife, husband, partner, etc.:

Examples:

Oh baby, I love you.
What's wrong, baby?
Don't worry, baby, everything's going to be fine.
6
Someone's baby is something that they have a special interest in and responsibility for:

Examples:

I don't know much about the project - it's Philip's baby.
7
something such as a device, vehicle, or product, especially one that you approve of or find impressive in some way:

Examples:

This ship is state-of-the-art. You would have to try pretty hard to sink this baby.
8
to give someone a lot of care, attention, or help, as if they were a young child:

Examples:

The boys were now ten and twelve and didn't want their mother to baby them.
My sister and I resented my brother because he was babied a lot.
She believes that voters are capable of understanding complex arguments and do not need to be babied.
9
to treat something with a lot of care and attention:

Examples:

You do not need to baby a cast iron pan; if something is stuck to it, use a metal scratch pad to clean it.
The vintage car was in impressive condition and had clearly been babied.
10
A baby animal is a very young animal:

Examples:

a baby elephant/monkey
Those baby seals look so adorable.
She rescued a baby bird that had fallen from its nest.
11
A baby boy or girl is a male or female baby:

Examples:

Nine months later they had a little baby boy.
I saw a young mother feeding her baby girl.
She sent them a photograph of her baby twins.
12
A baby vegetable is a type that is specially grown to stay small:

Examples:

I'll have the chicken in cream sauce with baby vegetables.
I keep a bag of baby carrots on my desk to stop me eating crisps.
I made chicken with mushrooms and baby sweetcorn.
The salmon was served with minted baby potatoes.
This dressing is great on baby spinach.
We ordered duck breast with baby pak choi.
13
a very young child:

Examples:

Sandra had a baby on May 29th.
My younger brother is the baby of the family.
14
Baby can be used to refer to anything young or smaller than usual:

Examples:

baby corn/lima beans
15
disapproving Baby can also mean someone who is behaving childishly:

Examples:

She complained like a baby about her boyfriend.
16
infml Baby is an affectionate way of addressing someone.
17
infml A baby can also be a project or job someone has a special interest in or responsibility for:

Examples:

The new computer system is really Phil’s baby.
18
to treat an older person like a young child:

Examples:

Some parents baby their children too much.
I like to be babied when I’m sick.

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