baby

Meanings

Noun

• A very young human, particularly from 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.
• A person who is immature, infantile or feeble.
• A person who is new to or inexperienced in something.
• The lastborn of a family; the youngest sibling, irrespective of age.
• A pet project or responsibility.
• A small image of an infant; a doll.

Adjective

• Picked when small and immature (as in baby corn, baby potatoes).
• Newest (overall, or in some group or state), most inexperienced.
• Like 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.

Related

Similar words

• big baby

Origin

• From Middle English baby, babie, a diminutive form of babe, equivalent to babe + -y. Perhaps ultimately imitative of baby talk (compare babble).