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baby

Pronunciation: /ˈbeɪ.bi/

The English word “baby” has 19 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered.
  2. A very young human, even if not yet born.
  3. 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.
  4. A person who is immature, infantile, or feeble.
  5. A person who is new to or inexperienced in something.
  6. The lastborn of a family; the youngest sibling, irrespective of age.
  7. A person's romantic partner; a term of endearment used to refer to or address e.g. one's girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse.
  8. A form of address to a person considered to be attractive.
  9. A thing that is comparatively small of its kind.
  10. A concept or creation endeared by its creator.
  11. A pet project or responsibility.
  12. An affectionate term for anything.
  13. A small image of an infant; a doll.
  14. One who is new to an identity or community.

adjective

  1. Picked when small and immature (as in baby corn, baby potatoes).
  2. Newest (overall, or in some group or state); most inexperienced.
  3. Like or pertaining to a baby, in size or youth; small, young.

verb

  1. To coddle; to pamper somebody like an infant.
  2. To tend (something) with care; to be overly attentive to (something), fuss over.

Etymology

From Middle English baby, babie (“baby”), a diminutive form of babe (“babe, baby”), equivalent to babe + -y/-ie (“endearing and diminutive suffix”). Perhaps ultimately imitative of baby talk (compare babble).

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.