Search

an infant or very young child.
a newborn or very young animal.
the youngest member of a family, group, etc.
an immature or childish person.
a human fetus.
Informal.

Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a girl or woman, especially an attractive one.
a person of whom one is deeply fond; sweetheart.
(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar address (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).
a man or boy; chap; fellow:
He’s a tough baby to have to deal with.
an invention, creation, project, or the like that requires one’s special attention or expertise or of which one is especially proud.
an object; thing:
Is that car there your baby?

of or suitable for a baby:
baby clothes.
of or like a baby; infantile:
baby skin.
small; comparatively little:
a baby car.
treating babies:
a baby doctor.
to treat like a young child; pamper.
to handle or use with special care; treat gently.
Contemporary Examples

A 4-year-old as well two babies, four and seven months, had died in locations other than the school.
The First Funeral for Moore, Oklahoma Michael Daly May 23, 2013

babies with the risky gene who had insensitive mothers continued to show the ineffective heart response.
How Moms Make a Difference Sharon Begley May 6, 2011

babies explore their finely calibrated environments without being swamped with direction or criticism.
The Secret Celebrity Parenting Craze Gina Piccalo October 30, 2010

Cole said the foundation’s “only goal is to educate teenagers not to have babies” and has research that shows its efforts work.
Bristol Palin’s Outrageous Payday Shushannah Walshe April 5, 2011

A lot of work has been done on babies fixating their gaze on things that interest them.
Rediscovering Richard Dawkins: An Interview J.P. O’Malley September 22, 2013

Historical Examples

People snivel over the deaths of babies; I see nothing to grieve about.
The Whirlpool George Gissing

“But I must get back to my babies,” said Mrs. Bines, plaintively.
The Spenders Harry Leon Wilson

Miss Blake found “Bailey’s babies” astonishingly unmanageable.
Little Aliens Myra Kelly

babies are common enough to most folks, but Lovey was diff’rent.
The Village Watch-Tower (AKA Kate Douglas Riggs) Kate Douglas Wiggin

We let his Minnie die, and sent his two babies to the Children’s Shelter.
The Next of Kin Nellie L. McClung

noun (pl) -bies

a newborn or recently born child; infant
(as modifier): baby food

an unborn child; fetus
the youngest or smallest of a family or group

a newborn or recently born animal
(as modifier): baby rabbits

generally (derogatory) an immature person
(slang) a young woman or sweetheart: often used as a term of address expressing affection
a project of personal concern
be left holding the baby, to be left with the responsibility
throw the baby out with the bath water, to lose the essential element by indiscriminate rejection
adjective
(prenominal) comparatively small of its type: a baby car
verb (transitive) -bies, -bying, -bied
to treat with love and attention
to treat (someone) like a baby; pamper or overprotect
n.

late 14c., babi, diminutive of baban (see babe + -y (3)). Meaning “childish adult person” is from c.1600. Meaning “youngest of a group” is from 1897. As a term of endearment for one’s lover it is attested perhaps as early as 1839, certainly by 1901; its popularity perhaps boosted by baby vamp “a popular girl,” student slang from c.1922. As an adjective, by 1750.

Baby food is from 1833. Baby blues for “blue eyes” recorded by 1892 (the phrase also was used for “postpartum depression” 1950s-60s). To empty the baby out with the bath (water) is first recorded 1909 in G.B. Shaw (cf. German das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten). Baby’s breath (noted for sweet smell, which also was supposed to attract cats) as a type of flower is from 1897. French bébé (19c.) is from English.
v.

“to treat like a baby,” 1742, from baby (n.). Related: Babied; babying.

baby ba·by (bā’bē)
n.
A very young child; an infant.

noun

A wife, girlfriend, or other cherished woman; also, less frequently, a husband, boyfriend, or cherished man: My baby don’t love me no more (1900s+)
Any cherished or putatively cherished person •A shortening of earlier warm baby (1900s+)
A mean and dangerous man; tough guy •Babe, ”a tough; a rowdy; blackguard,” is attested in the 1860s: I did not want them babies to think they had me under contract (1930s+)
A term of address for a man or a woman; bud, mac, pal •In stereotype, much used by show-business people: And this is maximum security, baby (1910+)
Anything regarded with special affection, admiration, pride, or awe: Those babies’ll turn on a dime/ What we had heard was the firing of those big babies a mile and a half from shore (1900+)
A thing referred to, esp something one does not know the name of; gadget, sucker: What’s this baby over here supposed to do? (1930s+)

Related Terms

bottle baby
see: throw out the baby with the bath water