English Explanatory Dictionary

infant

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A very young human being, from birth to somewhere between six months and two years of age after birth, needing almost constant care and attention.
  2. A minor.
  3. A student in an infant school or the first part of a primary school.
  4. A noble or aristocratic youth.
adj
  1. Of or pertaining to the earlier half of primary school education.
  2. small, being near its source.
verb
  1. To bear or bring forth (a child); to produce, in general.

Pronunciation

/ˈɪn.fənt/ En-us-infant.ogg

Word forms

infant infants infaunt infanting infanted

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English infaunt, borrowed from Latin īnfantem, accusative masculine singular of īnfāns, nominal use of the adjective meaning 'not able to speak', from īn- (“not”) + fāns, present participle of for (“to speak”). The verb is from Anglo-Norman enfanter, from the same Latin source. Doublet of infante.

Synonyms

baby

Related words

infancy infanteer infantier infante infanta infanticide infantile infantry neonate newborn sudden infant death syndrome

Derived words

floppy infant syndrome infantcare infant formula infanthood infant industry infantize infantlike infantly infant massage infant mortality infantocracy infantometer infantophile infantophilia infantophobe infantophobia infantorium infant respiratory distress syndrome infant safety seat infant school infant seat infant star infantswear infantwear junior infant nigfant noninfant Puerto Rican infant hypotonia syndrome senior infant swimfant terrible infant
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