baby

1 baby /ˈbeɪbi/ noun
plural babies
1 baby
/ˈbeɪbi/
noun
plural babies
Britannica Dictionary definition of BABY
[count]
1 
a  : a very young child
— often used before another noun
b  : a very young animal — often used before another noun
2 
a  : the youngest member of a group — often used before another noun
b  : someone who is young in comparison with others
c  : someone who behaves like a child
especially : someone who is afraid or who complains a lot
3 
slang
a  : a lover or sweetheart
◊ 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
◊ 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

hold the baby

— see 1hold

throw out the baby with the bathwater

informal
: to get rid of something you want while trying to get rid of something you do not want

— babyhood

/ˈbeɪbiˌhʊd/ noun [noncount]

— babyish

/ˈbeɪbijɪʃ/ adjective [more babyish; most babyish]
2 baby /ˈbeɪbi/ adjective
2 baby
/ˈbeɪbi/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of BABY
always used before a noun
: very small : much smaller than usual
3 baby /ˈbeɪbi/ verb
babies; babied; babying
3 baby
/ˈbeɪbi/
verb
babies; babied; babying
Britannica Dictionary definition of BABY
[+ object]
1 
: to treat (someone) like a baby : to be kind or too kind to (someone)
2 
: to operate or treat (something) in a very careful and gentle way