plural babies
1
a
: a very young child
She had the baby yesterday. = She gave birth to the baby yesterday.
Are you expecting a baby? [=are you pregnant?]
I hear the baby crying.
The baby is just learning to crawl.
—often used before another nouna baby girl/boy
baby clothes
baby pictures
a baby monitor
(US) I gave my sister a baby shower. [=a party at which gifts are given to a woman who is pregnant]
She has a real baby face. [=a face that resembles the face of a baby; a face that looks young and innocent]
b
: a very young animal
a bird and its babies
—often used before another nouna baby bird
a baby deer
2
a
: the youngest member of a group
My sister is the baby of the family.
—often used before another nounmy baby sister
b
: someone who is young in comparison with others
"Only 32? Oh, you're just a baby!"
c
: someone who behaves like a child
especially
: someone who is afraid or who complains a lot
When it comes to getting shots, I'm a real baby.
Don't be such a baby—you'll get your turn.
3
slang
a
: a lover or sweetheart
Nothing's gone right since my baby went away.
Note: This sense of baby is common in song lyrics.
b
—used as an informal way of addressing a lover, friend, etc. —used especially by men to address women and by women to address men
I missed you, baby.
Note: This sense of baby is sometimes used in a very informal way by men to address an attractive woman. Using baby to address someone you do not know well may cause offense.
4
: something that someone has created with special personal attention or interest
This project is my baby.
always used before a noun
: very small : much smaller than usual
a baby grand piano
baby carrots/vegetables
Take baby steps.
babies; babied; babying
1
: to treat (someone) like a baby : to be kind or too kind to (someone)
That boy will never learn to stand up for himself if you don't stop babying him.
I babied myself [=pampered myself] with a trip to the spa.
2
: to operate or treat (something) in a very careful and gentle way
baby a car
He was babying his injured foot.
Cite this Entry
“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/baby. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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