new-born

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Recently or just born: "new-born" describes an infant or creature that has only recently come into existence, typically within the first few hours or days of life.
   • Newly begun or created: In a figurative sense, "new-born" can describe something that has just started or been revived, such as a feeling, idea, or period.

2. Noun (also written as "newborn"):

   • A recently born child or animal: "new-born" refers to a baby or young animal that has just been born, usually in the first days or weeks of life.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The new-born baby slept peacefully in the hospital cot. (The infant had just been born.)
  • A new-born hope spread through the community after the election. (A freshly revived feeling of optimism.)

• Noun:

  • The nurse gently bathed the new-born. (The recently born infant.)
  • The zoo staff carefully monitored the new-born giraffe. (The young animal that had just been born.)

Advanced Usage

• "new-born" as a compound modifier: Often used before nouns to specify the recent emergence of a person, thing, or concept.

  • New-born love can be both exciting and fragile. (Romantic feelings that have just begun.)
  • The new-born nation faced many challenges. (A country that recently gained independence.)

• Medical context: In clinical settings, "new-born" refers specifically to an infant from birth to 28 days of age.

  • The paediatrician performed a routine check on the new-born. (The baby within the first month of life.)

Variants and Related Words

• Newborn (adj/n): A common spelling variant, used interchangeably with "new-born."

  • The newborn calf stood up within minutes. (The recently born young cow.)

• Newborn baby (n phrase): A specific term for a human infant in the first days of life.

  • She held her newborn baby for the first time. (Her recently born child.)

• Newborn period (n phrase): The first 28 days of life (neonatal period).

  • The newborn period is critical for development. (The early stage after birth.)

Synonyms

• Infant: a very young child or baby (often used for humans).
• Neonate: a medical term for a newborn infant (especially in the first month).
• New arrival: a colloquial term for a recently born baby.

Related Idioms

• "New-born as a lamb": Describes someone pure, innocent, or inexperienced.

  • He was as new-born as a lamb when he started his first job. (He was completely naive and inexperienced.)

• "New-born of hope": Something that arises from a fresh sense of optimism.

  • The peace treaty was a new-born of hope after years of war. (The treaty emerged from renewed optimism.)