baby

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baby

1. A term of endearment for one's lover or romantic partner. Don't be upset with me, baby—I didn't mean what I said! Aww, thanks, baby. This is exactly what I wanted for Valentine's Day! Baby! This is a pleasant surprise—what are you doing home so early?

2. A jocular term of endearment for one's friend. C'mon, baby, help me load these boxes into the truck. Hey, baby, pass the salt, will ya? Good to see you, baby! How've you been?

3. A term of address for someone, especially a woman, that one thinks is attractive. Used especially when trying to initiate a sexual or romantic encounter. Hey, baby, can I buy you a drink? If a guy comes up to me and calls me "baby," it's an instant turn-off. A: "You're looking fine tonight, baby." B: "Ugh, get lost."

4. A term of endearment for something that one owns and is pleased with or proud of, especially a vehicle, piece of machinery, or electronic device. A: "Wow, nice car!" B: "Thanks! Hop in—I'll show you what this baby can do!" I just bought a brand new sound system. I can't wait to take that baby home and crank some tunes! Whoa, check out the motorcycle! I wonder how fast this baby goes.

5. Some idea, project, or undertaking that one feels directly responsible for and very protective over. (Always comes after a possessive adjective.) This convention has been Sarah's baby for the last eight months, so I'm really glad for her that it all came together so well. Tom's been treating this new redevelopment plan like it's his baby or something, even though we all worked together to come up with it. The Christmas party is Dan's baby. I have no idea what the itinerary is.

6. Someone who is petulantly infantile or immature. Oh, boo-hoo, your sports team lost. So what? God, don't be such a baby! Tom always acts like a big baby whenever the boss doesn't go along with one of his ideas. Any time I beat my brother at anything, he is the biggest baby! Like, get over it, loser!

baby

1. n. a lover; one’s sweetheart. (Also a term of address.) Come over here and kiss me, baby.

2. n. a term of address for a friend or pal of either sex. Come on, baby, push this thing—hard!

3. n. a thing; a gadget; a machine, such as a car. (Similar to sucker.) Hand me that baby with the sharp point, will you?

4. n. a project thought of as an offspring. (Always with a possessor.) Whose baby is the Johnson account?

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References in classic literature ?

Give an average baby a fair chance, and if it doesn't do something it oughtn't to a doctor should be called in at once.

The baby need not take your whole heart, like the rich man who walled up the desert well.

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Phil had heard of the baby's birth, but not of its death, and she wrote Anne a congratulatory letter of sweet mirth which hurt her horribly.

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Huddled in the stern of the boat she sat with her baby strained close to her bosom, and because of that little tender, helpless thing she was happier tonight than she had been for many a sorrow-ridden day.

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"I brought the Simpson baby home, aunt Jane, thinking it would help us over a dull Sunday, but aunt Miranda won't let her stay.

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The baby grunted again, and Alice looked very anxiously into its face to see what was the matter with it.

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But, by degrees she was led on to confess that she would like to have for the inexhaustible baby such a nursery as never was seen.

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The baby screamed louder than ever, struggling and sobbing.

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Hearing of the baby's illness, he had conscientiously gone to the house after nightfall to perform the rite, and, unaware that the refusal to admit him had come from Tess's father and not from Tess, he could not allow the plea of necessity for its irregular administration.

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One of the little girls, a mere mite who seemed to have prematurely taken upon herself some charge of the others, stepped out of her place by me, and danced to and from the baby until it left off crying, and laughed.

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He would have kissed the baby too, but he was afraid she would laugh at him.

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'Morleena was a fine baby,' remarked Mr Kenwigs; as if this were rather an attack, by implication, upon the family.

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It made her laugh to think of Desiree with a baby. Why, it seemed but yesterday that Desiree was little more than a baby herself; when Monsieur in riding through the gateway of Valmonde had found her lying asleep in the shadow of the big stone pillar.

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And then the little baby was born, when I didn't expect it; and the thought came into my mind that I might get rid of it and go home again.

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I have dreams of having a little cottage built there, with the daisies up to the door, and no path of any sort-- just big enough to hold myself and one baby inside and a purple clematis outside.