cherub

noun cher·ub \ ˈcher-əb , ˈche-rəb \

Updated on: 19 May 2018

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

Recent Examples of cherub from the Web

While everyone was ogling at all the symbolism at the Met Gala last night, Kirsten Dunst welcomed her first cherub with fiancé Jesse Plemons.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "Kirsten Dunst & Jesse Plemons Welcome Their First Child," 8 May 2018
Riffing off the gradiose iconography of the religion, his Spring/Summer ’07 collection was an homage to Madonnas, saints, angels, and cherubs.

— cady lang, Time, "15 Times Catholicism Inspired Iconic Fashion Moments," 4 May 2018
The gilded, eight-horse drawn carriage, which is worth about 1.5 million dollars in today’s money, is adorned with three roof-top cherubs, four tritons, and a velvet and satin interior.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "Royal Carriages Throughout History, Including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Wedding Wheels," 3 May 2018
While an incalculable number of people would like to swaddle and coo at the Big Boy, one person publicly congratulated the Duchess and Prince William who actually has a shot at meeting the little cherub: Michelle Obama.

— amanda arnold, The Cut, "The Obamas Can’t Wait to Meet Kate Middleton and Prince William’s New Baby," 23 Apr. 2018
Old globe streetlights with cherub-looking statuettes seem both elegant and homey, and the Giddings Plaza fountain proved a crowd-pleaser.

— griffin jackson, chicagotribune.com, "Have global tastes but want a hometown feel? Consider Lincoln Square living," 24 Aug. 2017
His musings on everything from water bottles next to him on planes, fonts and rugs with cherub imagery have become fodder for his philosophical thoughts.

— anika reed, USA TODAY, "Lamar Odom, Yeezy, tattoos: Decoding Kanye West's return to Twitter," 16 Apr. 2018
The painting depicts the mythological figures of Apollo and Venus, the goddess of love, along with a cherub who may be her son Cupid.

— mercedes leguizamon and brandon griggs, CNN, "A forgotten painting in an Iowa closet turns out to be a 16th-century masterwork worth millions," 2 Apr. 2018
In the image, a nude woman is reclining and sleeping in a dream world which includes a cherub, an owl, flowers and various masks.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Earliest Images of Breast Cancer Found in Renaissance Paintings," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cherub.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cherub

Latin, from Greek cheroub, from Hebrew kĕrūbh

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Christian Religious Terms

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

CHERUB Defined for English Language Learners

cherub

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

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

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

cherub

Definition of cherub

cherubic

cherubically

cherublike

Recent Examples of cherub from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cherub

Other Christian Religious Terms

CHERUB Defined for English Language Learners

cherub

Definition of cherub for English Language Learners

CHERUB Defined for Kids

cherub

Definition of cherub for Students

Learn More about cherub

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

raillery

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

A Matter-of-Fact Look at 'Deadpan'

9 Words from the Magical Realm

A Field Guide to British Noble Titles

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Farm Idioms Quiz

True or False?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

9 Words from the Magical Realm

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word

cherub

Definition of cherub

cherubic

cherubically

cherublike

Recent Examples of cherub from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cherub

Other Christian Religious Terms

CHERUB Defined for English Language Learners

cherub

Definition of cherub for English Language Learners

CHERUB Defined for Kids

cherub

Definition of cherub for Students

Learn More about cherub

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

9 Words from the Magical Realm

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word