baby

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
  2. noun the youngest member of a group (not necessarily young)
  3. noun an immature childish person

Etymology

From Middle English baby, babie (“baby”), a diminutive form of babe (“babe, baby”), equivalent to babe + -y/-ie (“endearing and diminutive suffix”). Perhaps ultimately imitative of baby talk (compare babble).

In classic literature

Synonyms

babe, infant

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