newborn
newborn — adjective
1. A newborn baby or animal has just been born and is still very young — usually on
A newborn baby or animal has just been born and is still very young — usually only a few days or weeks old.
The nurse placed the newborn baby in its mother's arms right after the birth.
word order: newborn + noun (baby)
A newborn foal can stand up and walk within a few hours.
used with animal names: newborn foal
My sister and her husband brought their newborn daughter home from the hospital yesterday.
Newborn babies need to eat every two or three hours, even during the night.
The doctor checked the newborn calf's eyes and heart to make sure it was healthy.
- just born
informal phrase, equivalent in meaning but less precise about timeframe
- newly born
slightly more formal; interchangeable in most contexts
- old
refers to advanced age, opposite end of the life spectrum
文法句型
newborn + noun
用法筆記
Most commonly used before a noun (attributive position) to describe a baby or animal. Predicative use (e.g. 'The baby is newborn') is possible but much less frequent.
常見錯誤
2. relating to a system, organization, or idea that has just come into existence an
relating to a system, organization, or idea that has just come into existence and is only beginning to develop.
The country's newborn democracy faced its first difficult test with the election.
figurative use: newborn + abstract noun (democracy)
Investors were excited about the newborn company's fresh ideas for green energy.
Their newborn friendship grew quickly as they discovered they shared the same hobbies.
The newborn peace agreement brought hope to a region that had known war for many years.
- established
firmly in place after a long period of development
- long-standing
having existed for a long time
文法句型
newborn + abstract noun
用法筆記
Always used before a noun in figurative or metaphorical contexts. Common with nouns describing political systems, organizations, relationships, or abstract concepts. This sense is uncommon in everyday conversation and appears more in journalism or formal writing.
常見錯誤
newborn — noun
1. a very young baby, usually from the moment of birth up to a few weeks old.
a very young baby, usually from the moment of birth up to a few weeks old.
The newborns in the hospital ward were all sleeping peacefully after their feed.
plural form: newborns
A newborn needs gentle care and must be kept warm and dry at all times.
The midwife handed the crying newborn to its father for the first time.
Rashida could not stop smiling as she watched her newborn take its first tiny breaths.
The clinic offers special classes for parents who want to learn how to bathe a newborn.
文法句型
a newborn
the newborn
newborns (plural)
用法筆記
This noun is countable and often appears with a possessive (her newborn, their newborn) or with the definite article (the newborn). In medical settings, the term 'neonate' is used instead. The plural 'newborns' refers to a group of recently born babies.