/ beɪb; NAmE / noun
1.
( old use ) a baby
2.
( slang ) a word used to address a young woman, or your wife, husband or lover, usually expressing affection but sometimes considered offensive if used by a man to a woman he does not know :
What're you doing tonight, babe?
3.
( informal ) an attractive young woman
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IDIOMS
- a babe in arms
—more at mouth noun
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : probably imitative of an infant's first attempts at speech. Compare with baby .