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Added 9 October 2026

baby

/ˈbeɪ.bi/ noun

Categories: PeopleAnimalsEveryday Words

In Latin: infans Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about baby at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered. A very young human, even if not yet born.
    When is your baby due?
  2. A very young human, even if not yet born.
    When is your baby due?
  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.

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.

Origin

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).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: infantinfantilebabechildyoungcossetmollycoddlecoddlepampersisterindulgespoil

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