babysit (someone or something)

1. To look after another person's child or children in a temporary capacity. Julia will babysit the kids on Saturday. Any chance you can babysit Justin while I'm at parent-teacher conferences? Your sitter canceled? Don't worry, I can babysit the kids tonight, that's not a problem.

2. By extension, to look after or monitor someone, something, or an animal. Can you babysit these petri dishes and make note of any changes while I go to lunch? A: "Uncle Al is going to know you asked me to babysit him, and he won't be happy." B: "Well, too bad, because I'm not leaving him alone!" Maggie asked me to babysit her cat while she travels for work.