crib
A small bed with high sides for babies and toddlers.
The word crib has several meanings:
- A small bed with high sides designed for babies and toddlers. The sides keep little ones safe while they sleep, preventing them from rolling out. Parents often decorate cribs with colorful mobiles hanging overhead. When children grow big enough to climb out on their own, they usually move to a regular bed.
- To copy someone else's work. If you crib answers from a classmate's test or crib sentences from a website without attribution, you're cheating. Students sometimes keep crib sheets (tiny notes with answers hidden away) to sneak glances at during exams, though getting caught can bring serious consequences.
- A small dwelling or one's home. Someone might say “Come over to my crib” when inviting friends to their house. This casual usage started as slang but has become common in everyday speech.