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baby

noun
/ˈbeɪ̯.bi/US

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰā- Proto-Germanic *bō-redup. Proto-Germanic *babô Proto-West Germanic *babō Old English *baba Middle English babe Old English -iġ Middle English -y Middle English baby English baby 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).

  1. borrowed from Baby
  2. borrowed from ബേബി

Definitions

  1. A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is…

    A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered.

    • The baby new to earth and sky, ⁠What time his tender palm is prest ⁠Against the circle of the breast, Has never thought that ‘this is I:’ […]
    • In that film, I often hid my head in my hands, unable to watch scenes about dead babies and diving into gruesome lavatories.

  2. Any very young animal, especially a vertebrate

    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.

  3. A person who is immature, infantile, or feeble.

    • Stand up for yourself – don't be such a baby!
  4. ›+ 16 more definitions

    1. A person who is new to or inexperienced in something.

      • I only qualified as an architect this summer, so I'm still a baby.

    2. The lastborn of a family

      The lastborn of a family; the youngest sibling, irrespective of age.

      • Adam is the baby of the family.
      • "You are very dull this morning, Sheriff," said the youngest daughter of the house, who, being the baby and pretty, had grown pettishly privileged in speech.
      • "He's a year older than me." "You're the baby, eh?"

    3. A person's romantic partner

      A person's romantic partner; a term of endearment used to refer to or address e.g. one's girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse.

      • Too busy thinking about my baby, and I ain't got time for nothing else.
      • Baby, don't cry.
      • Well, since my baby left me, Well, I found a new place to dwell. Well, it's down at the end of Lonely Street At Heartbreak Hotel.

    4. A form of address to a person considered to be attractive.

      • Hey baby, what are you doing later?

    5. A thing that is comparatively small of its kind.

      • There will be only seven episodes in the final season. Previous seasons had as many as ten, nine, and eight episodes total. So this one is definitely the baby. After the season premiere, episodes will drop weekly-ish on Thursdays.

    6. A concept or creation endeared by its creator.

      • This test program I've designed is my new baby.

    7. A pet project or responsibility.

      • You need to talk to John about that – it's his baby.
      • Sovnarkom was Lenin's baby, it was where he focused all his energies […].

    8. An affectionate term for anything.

      • See my new car here? I can't wait to take this baby for a drive.

    9. A small image of an infant

      A small image of an infant; a doll.

    10. One who is new to an identity or community.

      • baby queer; baby trans
      • These more general spells and rituals can also be helpful for baby witches, who might want more time to practice before they hop into highly-specific spells.
      • That was even worse than blurting my sexuality like I had when I was what we called a “baby dyke” in college, desperate to find other lesbians for friendship or more.

    11. Picked when small and immature (as in baby corn, baby potatoes).

    12. Newest (overall, or in some group or state)

      Newest (overall, or in some group or state); most inexperienced.

      • That evening, we grouped about the fire in the parlor, a wide circle that left room for the babyest of the party to disport themselves upon the rug, in the glow of the grate piled with cannel coal.
      • Of when I was a baby editor. Very baby, it was actually a kind of work experience, I was still at university but I knew what I wanted. With a small independent publisher, good reputation, did some marvellous books, […]

    13. Like or pertaining to a baby, in size or youth

      Like or pertaining to a baby, in size or youth; small, young.

      • Spider. Here let us begin at the beginning, at the babyest of books for Edith's nursery.
      • She let it drop out of her sleeve, and it was two Chings — the dearest, littlest, babyest, tiny Chings — little balls of fur! And she ran away, and daddy's father picked them up, and put them in his pockets, and brought them home, […]

    14. To coddle

      To coddle; to pamper somebody like an infant.

      • […] though he tried to be gruff and mature, he yielded to her and was glad to be babied.
      • Then the man effected measles and stayed off the job for six weeks, babying himself at home, though he lived just round the corner from my half-built house.

    15. To tend (something) with care

      To tend (something) with care; to be overly attentive to (something), fuss over.

      • In the past 27 years, "Mr. Mac," as he is known to his 46,000 teammates, has built and babied his McDonnell Co. from nothing into a $1 billion-a-year corporation.

    16. A surname.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at baby. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01baby02kittens03kitten04hedgehog05ball06hollow07natural08birth

A definitional loop anchored at baby. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

8 hops · closes at baby

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA