# baby

Pronunciation: say "BAY-bee" /ˈbeɪ̯.bi/

## Noun

1. A very young child, from before birth until about the age of two or until it can walk well.
   - Simple: A very young child, from before it is born until it is about two years old.
   - _The newborn baby weighed just over seven pounds at birth._
   - _New parents often struggle to soothe a crying baby._
2. Any very young animal, especially a vertebrate, many of which have specific names such as kittens, puppies, and chicks.
   - Simple: A very young animal, like a kitten, puppy, or chick.
   - _The zookeeper hand-fed the baby gorilla after its mother rejected it._
   - _Many predators target the babies of grazing animals during calving season._
4. An affectionate name for a romantic partner, or an informal way of addressing someone one finds attractive.
   - Simple: A loving name for a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife, or for someone you find attractive.
   - _Goodnight, baby. I'll see you in the morning._
   - _"Happy anniversary, baby," he whispered, handing his wife a box of chocolates._
5. An affectionate name for a person, animal, or thing one feels fondness for.
   - Simple: A loving name you call someone or something you care about.
   - _"Easy now, baby," she murmured to her sputtering old car._
   - _"Goodnight, baby, sleep well," he told his daughter._
8. A person who behaves in an immature, infantile, or feeble manner.
   - Simple: Someone who acts in a childish, weak, or immature way.
   - _Stop acting like a baby and apologize to your sister._
   - _Quit being such a baby about the flu shot; it'll be over in two seconds._
6. A project, plan or task that a particular person is responsible for, especially one they started and care about.
   - Simple: A project or job that someone is in charge of, often one they started and care about a lot.
   - _That documentary was her baby, and she fought over every edit._
   - _The new app is his baby; he coded every line himself._
9. The lastborn of a family; the youngest sibling, regardless of current age.
   - Simple: The youngest child in a family, no matter how old they are now.
   - _Being the baby of five children, Tom was always the most protected._
   - _Their grandmother still treats the baby of the family like a small child._
11. A person who is new to and inexperienced in a particular activity, field, or community.
   - Simple: Someone who is new to an activity or group and does not have much experience yet.
   - _Despite his confidence, he was a baby in the world of finance._
   - _On her first dig, the volunteer felt like a baby among seasoned archaeologists._

## Adjective

3. Small or young for its kind, such as a vegetable picked before it is fully grown.
   - Simple: Small or young for its kind, like baby carrots picked before they are fully grown.
   - _We roasted the baby potatoes whole, skins and all, with garlic and rosemary._
   - _The stir-fry was packed with baby corn, snap peas, and thin strips of beef._
12. Being the youngest or newest member of a group, and thus the least experienced.
   - Simple: Youngest or newest, and so the least experienced.
   - _The baby associate at the firm got handed the tedious paperwork._
   - _The partners handed the dullest paperwork to the baby associates who had just passed the bar._

## Interjection

7. Used, often to no one in particular, to show excitement, delight, or triumph, or to give a remark extra force. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A word people shout when they are excited or happy, or to make what they say sound stronger.
   - _"Payday, baby!" he shouted as he walked out of the office._
   - _When the final score came up, she jumped off the couch and cheered, "That's how it's done, baby!"_

## Verb

10. To treat someone or something with great or excessive care and attention, as one would a baby.
   - Simple: To give someone or something a lot of care and attention, sometimes too much, as if they were a baby.
   - _His grandmother babied him relentlessly, cutting his food and fetching his slippers._
   - _Coaches who baby their star players often regret it later._

## Noun

13. A doll, or any small figure made in the likeness of an infant. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A small toy made to look like a little child.

## Origin

The word is a Middle English pet form of babe, spelled baby or babie, made with the affectionate, diminutive ending -y/-ie. Baby talk may be its ultimate source (compare babble).

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/baby (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).