cherub

noun

cher·​ub ˈcher-əb 

ˈche-rəb

plural cherubs or cherubim ˈcher-ə-ˌbim 

ˈker-,

 also  ˈcher-yə-

1

cherubim plural : an order of angels see celestial hierarchy

2

plural usually cherubs

a

: a beautiful usually winged child in painting and sculpture

b

: an innocent-looking usually chubby and rosy person

This torrent of arcane football lingo spewed from the lips of a red-haired, freckle-faced cherub …

—Tim Layden

cherubic

chə-ˈrü-bik 

 also  ˈcher-ə-

adjective

cherubically

chə-ˈrü-bi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

cherublike

ˈcher-əb-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of cherub in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the early nineties, Pavement looked like a funny paradox, a crew of cherubs in collared shirts backed by Young, a long-haired, often shirtless showman pounding his drums. —Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

In the yard the stone statues of two naked cherubs hug, an orange tree is laden with fruit and the flame red hibiscus and poinsettia are in full bloom. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025

Art cycles in and out of fashion, and nothing could have been less suited to twentieth-century taste than Boucher’s chocolate-box cherubs. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025

All that’s missing is cherub wings. —Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek cheroub, from Hebrew kĕrūbh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cherub

• carib
• carob

Kids Definition

cherub

noun

cher·​ub ˈcher-əb 

1

: a painting or drawing of a beautiful child usually with wings

2

: a chubby rosy child

cherubic

chə-ˈrü-bik 

adjective