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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

Parents sometimes have an attitude of, “I was brought up in the school of hard knocks, no one babied me.”
How to Help Your Anxious Kid Eliza Shapiro May 10, 2013

Historical Examples

I hoped that somehow we wouldn’t have to spend that Martian anniversary being congratulated and petted and babied.
The Statue Mari Wolf

Had she dared, she would have babied Martin to an even greater extent than she did.
The Wall Between Sara Ware Bassett

Harriet insisted that she did not wish to be “babied,” but, the guardian was firm.
The Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea Janet Aldridge

We babied him abominably—he was, for two years, the only subject we had for such malpractice.
Modern Essays John Macy

Mike dearly loved cauliflowers, and babied ours as a flower gardener babies his hybrid tea roses.
The Idyl of Twin Fires Walter Prichard Eaton

It’s nonsense for a great hot-blooded clown, like me to be babied with a fire.
Bad Hugh Mary Jane Holmes

When his feet got well—I had toadied and babied him so—he was plum ruined.
The Outlet Andy Adams

Mrs.Robinson had always been babied by the girls, and that she was very nervous her whole family knew too well.
The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach Margaret Penrose

She thought we all ought to give up and stay with you, but we told her you disliked to be ‘babied.’
A Court of Inquiry Grace S. Richmond

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