nap ‧ py /ˈnæpi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural nappies ) [countable] British English
[ Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: napkin ]
a piece of soft cloth or paper worn by a baby between its legs and fastened around its waist to hold its liquid and solid waste SYN diaper American English :
Excuse me while I change the baby’s nappy.
a dirty nappy
disposable nappies (=nappies which are made to be used once and thrown away)
nappy rash (=sore skin caused by wet nappies)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ wear a nappy
She doesn't wear nappies anymore; she's toilet trained.
▪ have a nappy on
He was three and a half, so he didn't have a nappy on.
▪ change a nappy (=take off a baby's dirty nappy and put on a clean one)
My husband hardly ever changes the baby's nappies.
▪ put on a nappy (=put a nappy on a baby)
I put a clean nappy on her half an hour ago.
▪ take off a nappy (=take off a baby's nappy)
Come on, let's take this dirty nappy off.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + nappy
▪ dirty/soiled
Where shall I put the dirty nappy?
▪ wet
She had been left in a wet nappy all day.
▪ dry/clean
I changed him into a dry nappy.
▪ a disposable nappy (=one that is meant to be used once and thrown away)
Disposable nappies are harmful to the environment.
▪ a cloth nappy (=one made of cloth, that you can wash and use again)
New cloth nappies are easily washable.
■ nappy + NOUN
▪ nappy rash (=sore skin caused by wet nappies)
He's got really bad nappy rash at the moment.
■ phrases
▪ be out of nappies (=to no longer wear nappies, but use the toilet instead)
Is George out of nappies yet?