Definition

Noun: 1. (Informal, often affectionate) A term of address for a person, typically a woman, considered attractive or endearing. This usage is often familiar and can be romantic. 2. (Literary or archaic) A very young child; an infant or baby. 3. (Figurative) A naive, innocent, or inexperienced person.

Examples

• As a term of address:
  • "Hey babe, how was your day?"
  • He turned to his girlfriend and said, "You look amazing, babe."
• Referring to a baby:
  • The mother gently rocked the sleeping babe in her arms. (This usage has a literary or old-fashioned tone).
• Referring to an inexperienced person:
  • He's a complete babe in the woods when it comes to managing finances.

Advanced Usage

• "babe in the woods": An idiom describing a naive, innocent, or helpless person who is easily deceived or taken advantage of, especially in a complex or dangerous situation.
  • On her first day at the large corporation, she felt like a babe in the woods.
• "babe magnet" (slang): A person or thing that is very attractive to potential romantic partners.
  • His new sports car is a real babe magnet.

Variants and Related Words

• Baby (n.): The standard and more common word for a very young child. It is also used as a similar term of endearment.
• Infant (n.): A formal or medical term for a very young child.

Synonyms

• For a young child: baby, infant, newborn.
• For a term of endearment: darling, sweetheart, honey, love.
• For a naive person: innocent, greenhorn, novice.

Related Idioms

• "babe in arms": A very young baby that needs to be carried.
  • She was just a babe in arms when her family moved here.
• "out of the mouths of babes": A saying used when a child says something surprisingly wise or truthful.
  • When my five-year-old said, "Grown-ups worry too much," I thought, "Out of the mouths of babes!"

Noun

1. (slang) sometimes used as a term of address for attractive young women
2. a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
   • the baby began to cry again
   • she held the baby in her arms
   • it sounds simple, but when you have your own baby it is all so different