baby

ba•by

[[t]ˈbeɪ bi[/t]] n. pl. -bies

1) dvl an infant or very young child

2) dvl a human fetus

3) zool. a newborn or very young animal

4) the youngest member of a family, group, etc

5) an immature or childish person

6) inf Informal.

a) off sex sts Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a girl or woman

b) sex a person of whom one is deeply fond; sweetheart

c) sex (sometimes cap.) an affectionate or familiar term of address (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, subordinates, etc.)

d) a project, creation, etc., that requires one's special attention or of which one is esp. proud

e) a person or object:

Those big babies can carry a lot of cargo[/ex]

7) for a baby:

baby clothes[/ex]

8) of or like a baby; infantile:

baby skin[/ex]

9) smaller than the usual:

baby eggplants[/ex]

10) to treat like a young child; pamper

11) to handle or use with special care

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Etymology: 1350–1400; ME; see babe, -y II ba′by•hood`, n. ba′by•ish, adj. ba′by•ish•ly, adv. ba′by•ish•ness, n. usage: Definition5ais sometimes used with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting or demeaning to women. Definition5bis used by a man or woman to refer to a sweetheart. Definition5cis an affectionate term of address. However, when used in the workplace or in social interactions with strangers, it is sometimes perceived as insulting.