ba‧by 1 S1 W1 / beɪbi / 名词 ( 复数形式 babies ) [可数名词]

1 young child a very young child who has not yet learned to speak or walk :

The baby is crying.

She gave birth to a baby on Thursday.

What do you think of your new baby sister? → test-tube baby

2 young animal a very young animal :

baby birds

3 vegetable a type of vegetable which is grown to be much smaller than usual or is eaten before it has grown to its normal size :

baby carrots

baby sweetcorn

4 youngest a younger child in a family, often the youngest :

Clare is the baby of the family.

5 woman spoken

a) used to address someone that you love :

Relax, baby – we’re on holiday.

b) not polite used to address a young woman that you do not know

6 silly person someone, especially an older child, who is not behaving in a brave way :

Don’t be a baby!

7 responsibility something special that someone has developed or is responsible for :

Don’t ask me about the building contract – that’s Robert’s baby.

8 thing informal something, especially a piece of equipment or a machine, that you care about a lot :

This baby can reach speeds of 130 miles per hour.

→ throw the baby out with the bathwater at throw 1 ( 37 )

COLLOCATIONS

动词

a baby is born Let me know as soon as the baby is born.

have a baby/give birth to a baby She had the baby at home. | Sue gave birth to a baby boy.

be expecting a baby (= be pregnant ) My wife’s expecting a baby.

a baby is due (= is expected to be born ) When is your baby due?

lose a baby (= have a baby that dies when it is born too soon ) She was three months pregnant when she lost the baby.

deliver a baby (= help a woman to give birth to a baby ) Usually your baby will be delivered by a midwife.

abandon a baby (= leave your baby somewhere because you do not want it ) A disturbing number of babies are abandoned by their mothers.

feed a baby If your baby cries, she may want feeding.

breast-feed a baby 63% of new mothers breast-feed their babies.

change a baby (= change its nappy ) Could you change the baby for me?

形容词

a newborn baby There’s plenty of help and advice for people with newborn babies.

an unborn baby (= not yet born ) Drinking alcohol is bad for your unborn baby.

a premature baby (= born before the normal time ) Lesley’s baby was three weeks premature.

an abandoned baby (= left somewhere by a mother who does not want it ) The abandoned baby was found under a hedge.

an illegitimate baby (= born to an unmarried mother ) The number of illegitimate babies is rising.

an unwanted baby Unwanted babies were frequently abandoned in the streets.

a contented baby Danielle was a lovely contented baby.

baby + NOUN

a baby boy/girl She’s just had a lovely healthy baby girl.

a baby son/daughter/brother/sister We’d like a baby brother or sister for Ben.

baby clothes/food

COMMON ERRORS

► Do not say ‘she is waiting a baby’ . Say she is expecting a baby .

THESAURUS

baby a very young child who has not yet learned to speak or walk : I sat next to a woman holding a baby.

toddler a baby who has learned how to walk : The playground has a special area for toddlers.

infant formal a baby or a very young child : The disease is mainly found in infants.

little one spoken informal a baby, or a small child up to the age of about three : How old is your little one?

young the babies of an animal or bird : Kangaroos carry their young in a pouch.

litter a group of baby animals that are born at the same time to the same mother : Our cat has just had a litter of six kittens.