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baby

1 baby /ˈbeɪbi/ noun
plural babies
1 baby
/ˈbeɪbi/
noun
plural babies
Britannica Dictionary definition of BABY
[count]
: a very young child
often used before another noun
: a very young animal often used before another noun
: the youngest member of a group often used before another noun
: someone who is young in comparison with others
: someone who behaves like a child
especially : someone who is afraid or who complains a lot
slang
: a lover or sweetheart
◊ This sense of baby is common in song lyrics.
used as an informal way of addressing a lover, friend, etc. used especially by men to address women and by women to address men
◊ This sense of baby is sometimes used in a very informal way by men to address an attractive woman.
◊ Using baby to address someone you do not know well may cause offense.
: something that someone has created with special personal attention or interest

hold the baby

see 1hold

throw out the baby with the bathwater

informal
: to get rid of something you want while trying to get rid of something you do not want

— babyhood

/ˈbeɪbiˌhʊd/ noun [noncount]

— babyish

/ˈbeɪbijɪʃ/ adjective [more babyish; most babyish]
2 baby /ˈbeɪbi/ adjective
2 baby
/ˈbeɪbi/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of BABY
always used before a noun
: very small : much smaller than usual
3 baby /ˈbeɪbi/ verb
babies; babied; babying
3 baby
/ˈbeɪbi/
verb
babies; babied; babying
Britannica Dictionary definition of BABY
[+ object]
: to treat (someone) like a baby : to be kind or too kind to (someone)
: to operate or treat (something) in a very careful and gentle way