preemie

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Word: Preemie

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A "preemie" is a short form of the word "premature infant." It refers to a baby that is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Normally, a pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, so preemies are born too early, which can lead to health challenges.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "preemie" when talking about a baby that was born early, especially in a medical or health context.
• It is often used in hospitals, by doctors, or in parenting discussions.

Example Sentence:

• "My sister had a preemie, and the doctors took special care of her in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)."

Advanced Usage:

In more technical discussions, you might hear the term "premature" used instead of "preemie." For example, "The premature infant requires more monitoring than full-term babies."

Word Variants:

• Premature (adjective): Relating to a baby born before the normal time.
• Prematurity (noun): The condition of being born prematurely.

Different Meanings:

• In a broader sense, "premature" can also refer to anything happening too soon or before the appropriate time. For example, "It was premature to make a decision without all the facts."

Synonyms:

• Premature infant
• Early-born baby

Idioms & Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "preemie," you might encounter phrases like: - "Born too soon," which conveys the same idea as being a preemie.

Summary:

A "preemie" is a baby born before 37 weeks of gestation. It's important to understand this term, especially in medical contexts, as it highlights the special care these infants may need.

Academic

Noun

1. an infant that is born prior to 37 weeks of gestation

Synonyms

• premature baby
• preterm baby
• premature infant
• preterm infant
• premie