Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

cherub

play
noun cher·ub \ ˈcher-əb , ˈche-rəb \

Definition of cherub

plural cherubs or cherubim play \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

play \chə-ˈrü-bik also ˈcher-ə-\ adjective
—

cherubically

play \-bi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
—

cherublike

play \ˈcher-əb-ˌlīk\ adjective

See cherub defined for English-language learners

See cherub defined for kids

From the M-W Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
image1644821030
These Are Fighting Words
young-plant-shoots
Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!
alt-59c448f88ea38
Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

Origin and Etymology of cherub

Latin, from Greek cheroub, from Hebrew kĕrūbh

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

CHERUB Defined for English Language Learners

cherub

play
noun

Definition of cherub for English Language Learners

  • : a type of angel that is usually shown in art as a beautiful young child with small wings and a round face and body

  • : someone (such as a child) who is thought of as being like a small angel

CHERUB Defined for Kids

cherub

play
noun cher·ub \ ˈcher-əb \

Definition of cherub for Students

1 :a beautiful child usually with wings in paintings and drawings
2 :a cute chubby child

Learn More about cherub

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of cherub Nglish: Translation of cherub for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cherub

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cherub? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

toothsome

play

agreeable, attractive, or delicious

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. dotage, dotard a state or period of senile decay

  2. otherwise "in other respects"

  3. federalism Graham says bill gives power to states

  4. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  5. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

cherub

Test Your Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

  • young-plant-shoots
  • Which of the following is a new sense of the word bunny?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59c52d6ee2f72
Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

The word's origins are quite literal

alt-59c4207ecf106
Let's Talk 'Tea'

Spill it, sip it: just make it hot.

image1644821030
8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

alt-59c2960017c94
The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

When you push a meeting, where does it go?

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

young-plant-shoots
Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

You're going to have to memorize the dictionary again.

Take the quiz
stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game