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Baby vs Darling - What's the difference?

baby | darling |

Darling is a synonym of baby.



As nouns the difference between baby and darling

is that baby is a very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered while darling is a person who is dear to one.

As adjectives the difference between baby and darling

is that baby is of a child: very young; of the age when he or she would be termed a baby or infant while darling is dear; cherished.

As a verb baby

is {{cx|transitive|lang=en}} To coddle; to pamper somebody like an infant.

As a proper noun Darling is

{{surname|A=An|English and Scottish|from=nicknames}}, originally a nickname from darling.

baby

English

Noun

(babies)
  • A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered.
  • Any very young animal, especially a vertebrate; many species have specific names for their babies, such as kittens for the babies of cats, puppies]] for the babies of dogs, and chicks for the babies of birds. See [[:Category:Baby animals for more.
  • Unborn young; a fetus.
    • When is your baby due?
  • A person who is immature or infantile.
    • Stand up for yourself - don't be such a baby !
  • A term of endearment for a girlfriend or boyfriend or spouse.
  • (informal) A form of address to a man or a woman considered to be attractive.
    • Hey baby , what are you doing later?
  • A pet project or responsibility.
    • The annual report has been my baby since September.
  • The lastborn of a family.
    • See my new car here? I can't wait to take this baby for a drive.
  • (archaic) A small image of an infant; a doll.

    • Synonyms

    * (young human being) babe, babby, babbie, infant * (immature or infantile person) big baby * (term of endearment) love

    See also

    * gamete, zygote, morula, blastocyst, embryo, fetus

    Adjective

    (-) (used only before the noun)
  • Of a child: very young; of the age when he or she would be termed a baby or infant.
    • a baby boy
  • Of an animal: young.
    • a baby elephant
  • Intended for babies.
    • baby clothes
  • Picked when small and immature (as in baby corn'', ''baby potatoes ).

    • Usage notes

    When referring to a human baby (as per noun sense 1 above) the usual practice is to treat 'human' as the adjective and 'baby' as the noun.

    Synonyms

    * (sense) little * (intended for babies) baby's

    Verb

  • To coddle; to pamper somebody like an infant.

    • Derived terms

    * anchor baby * baby-batterer * baby-battering * baby beef * Baby Bell * baby bond * baby bonus * baby boom * baby boomer * baby-bouncer * baby boy * baby buggy * babycare * baby carriage * baby doll * baby-doll pajamas, baby doll pyjamas * baby face * baby food * baby girl * baby grand * babygro * babyhood * baby house * babyish * baby-jumper * baby-minder * baby monitor * baby of the family * baby's breath * baby seat * babysit, baby-sit * babysitter, baby-sitter * babysitting * baby-sitting * baby-snatcher * baby-snatching * baby's tears * baby talk * baby tooth * baby-walker * be left holding the baby * big baby * crybaby * cry like a baby * passport baby * throw out the baby with the bathwater, throw the baby out with the bathwater * sleep like a baby (baby)

    Related terms

    * babe

    See also

    * child * infant * toddler

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words English affectionate terms ----

    darling

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (informal) *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who is dear to one.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
    • , passage=But Richmond, his grandfather's darling , after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 15, author=Felicity Cloake, work=Guardian
    • , title= How to cook the perfect nut roast , passage=If there's such a thing as pariah food – a recipe shunned by mainstream menus, mocked to near extinction and consigned to niche hinterlands for evermore – then the nut roast, a dish whose very name has become a watchword for sawdusty disappointment, is surely a strong contender. One of the darlings of the early vegetarian movement (particularly in its even sadder form, the cutlet), it was on the menu at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium [sic], and has since become the default Sunday option for vegetarians – and a default source of derision for everyone else.}}

    Synonyms

    * * * *

    Derived terms

    * media darling

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Dear; cherished.
    • She is my darling wife of twenty-two years.
  • charming
    • Well isn't that a darling little outfit she has on.

    Usage notes

    darlinger is rarely used.

    Anagrams

    * English affectionate terms