ˈbeɪbɪ n. & v. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 a
very young child or
infant,
esp.
one not yet able to
walk. 2 an unduly
childish person (is a baby
about injections). 3
the youngest
member of a
family,
team, etc. 4 (often attrib.) a a young or
newly born animal. b a
thing that is
small of
its kind (baby
car; baby rose). 5 sl. a young
woman; a
sweetheart (often as a
form of address). 6 sl. a person or thing regarded
with affection or
familiarity. 7 one's
own responsibility,
invention,
concern,
achievement,
etc., regarded in a
personal way. --v.tr. (-ies, -ied) 1
treat like a baby. 2
pamper. øbaby boom colloq. a
temporary marked increase in the birthrate. baby
boomer a person born
during a baby boom, esp.
after the
war of 1939-45. baby-bouncer
Brit. a
frame supported by
elastic or springs,
into which a child is harnessed to
exercise its limbs. Baby Buggy (pl. -ies) Brit. propr. a kind of child's collapsible
pushchair. baby
carriage US a pram. baby
grand the smallest size of grand piano. baby-snatcher colloq. 1 a person
who kidnaps babies. 2 = cradle-snatcher. baby-talk childish
talk used by or to young
children. baby-walker a wheeled frame in which a baby learns to walk.
carry (or hold) the baby bear
unwelcome responsibility.
throw away the baby with the bath-water
reject the
essential with the
inessential. øøbabyhood n. [ME, formed as
BABE, -Y(2)]