baby

UK /ˈbeɪ̯.bi/ US /ˈbeɪ̯.bi/
noun 5adj 3verb 2name 1

Definitions

noun

1

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

A very young human, even if not yet born.

When is your baby due?

Her baby had always been active, even before he was born, when he would kick her bladder.

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 mo

4

A person who is immature, infantile, or feeble.

Stand up for yourself – don't be such a baby!

5

A person who is new to or inexperienced in something.

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

adj

1

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

2

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

Mrs. Paull held out her hand to the babyest of the quartette, as they tiptoed up to the bed. “Lift her up, please, Marie!” she said, motioning to the place enclosed by her arm. When the rosy cheek touched hers upon the pillow, she asked ...

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.

3

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, […]

verb

1

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.

2

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.

1912, Linda Craig, interviewed by Theresa Forte, "Tree and Twig farm — a treasure chest of heirloom tomatoes," Welland Tribune, 25 May, 2012, https://web.archive.org/web/20171205052150/http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2012/05/23/tree-and-twig-farm--a-treasure-chest-of-heirloom-tomatoes I have grown them for years and although some years are better than others, I have always had loads of tomatoes by not babying them, going easy on the water, and fertilizing with compost in the planting hole.

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