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kid

kid

∞ 1.0
A young person, usually a child
  • noun
  • /kɪd/
  • Informal
: chico
  • But let's just say that your kid is really struggling.
  • have kids
  • teach kids
  • lots of kids

You know, I don't think kids want that.

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Examples

  • I tried to tell my father, but I was just a kid then.

  • I'd feel the same way if it was my kid that was missing.

  • What can parents do if their kids are lost?

  • You should be a kid as long as you can.

  • And she wants to have kids with you.

  • Have you ever had to drive your kids places when you didn't want to?

    Academic text (2012)
  • My father took me to the palladium when I was a kid.

  • I want to give a new toy to a kid who doesn't have one.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Over the years, Shapiro has followed up with the 17 kids who appeared in the documentary.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The kids played in the park all afternoon.

Synonyms

child
vskid
∞ 1.0

A young person who is not yet an adult, often a son or daughter

is the informal alternative used in casual speech
young person
vskid
651 1.0

A child or teenager who is not yet an adult

is informal and typically used for younger or casual references
kiddo
vskid
  • Baby Talk
171 7.2

A friendly, informal way to call a child or young person

is informal but does not imply affection when used
minor
vskid
163 2.8

A person who is not yet an adult by law

is informal and focuses on everyday reference, not legality
youngster
vskid
152 1.0

A child or teenager who is not yet an adult

is informal instead, carrying a casual conversational tone
youth
vskid
99 1.0

A young person, often a boy or young man

is informal and usually refers to younger children rather than teens
kiddie
vskid
  • Informal
88 7.7

A young child

is informal too but used broadly for any young person
schoolchild
vskid
33 1.0

A child who goes to primary or secondary school

is informal and not tied to school attendance or age group
tyke
vskid
  • UK
15 8.0

A young child who is lively and often naughty

is informal as well but does not imply mischief or liveliness
young'un
vskid
  • Informal
12 9.3

A friendly way to say child or young animal

is informal but lacks the dialectal or regional flavour
kiddy
vskid
  • Informal
6 7.5

A young child

is informal as well but more neutral in tone
nipper
vskid
  • UK
4 9.0

A child or young person in British English

is informal but more general and not regionally marked
youngling
vskid
3 5.5

A child or baby animal not yet fully grown

is informal and limited to human young people
kidlet
vskid
  • Informal
1 8.2

A small child or young goat that people talk about in a loving, informal way

is informal but less focused on smallness or cuteness
tike
vskid
  • UK
1 8.7

A small child, often a boy, who is playful or naughty

is informal but neutral about behaviour or attitude
small fry
vskid
  • Informal
1 7.4

Young children who are not yet adults

is informal too but more commonly used in neutral speech
childe
vskid
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old word for a child, often a boy

is the modern informal everyday word used now
kidling
vskid
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A young child in old or local language

is the current informal term used in everyday speech
tiddler
vskid
  • UK
1 8.8

A very small child

is informal too but not specifically British or tiny in size

Idioms

16 3.7

A person or thing new to a group that others do not know yet

To act happy and without worry like a child

with kid gloves
  • Informal
6 7.3

To treat someone very carefully so you do not upset them

new kid in town
  • Informal
3 4.3

A person new to a place who people notice

Very excited and happy because there are many things to choose from

3 7.0

Treat someone very gently to avoid upsetting them

Very excited and happy like a child who gets presents

Very excited and happy in an obvious way

Compounds

44 2.7

A child or young person from a family that has a lot of money

11 7.9

Treating people or situations very carefully and gently

whiz-kid
  • Informal
11 7.3

A young person who is very good at business or technology

A famous American outlaw from the Old West said to have killed 21 men

1 7.2

A glove made of very soft leather from young goats

1 9.4

A friendly nickname people use for baseball player Willie Mays

chattery kid
  • Informal
4.6

A child who talks a lot and is often noisy

6.5

A careful gentle way to deal with a sensitive person or situation

Very gentle treatment to avoid harm or upset

A very careful, gentle way of handling small things to avoid damage

To deal with a sensitive problem very carefully to avoid making things worse

gumptious kid
  • Informal
8.5

A child who is energetic and finds ways to solve problems

iPad kid
  • Informal
8.5

A child who often uses tablets and knows many apps

speccy kid
  • Offensive
9.9

A child who wears glasses and is teased for them

How Young

baby
∞ 1.0
toddler
156 1.0
kid
  • Informal
∞ 1.0
teenager
750 1.0

Surface Forms

kid singular
kids plural

Etymology

The word kid meaning 'child' comes from an old word for a 'young goat'. People began using it as a friendly name for children, so kid now means a young person.