binky
binky — noun
- binkysingular
- binkiesplural
1. A small mouthpiece for infants, originally a brand called Binky — babies suck on
A small mouthpiece for infants, originally a brand called Binky — babies suck on it to feel calm and fall asleep.
Yumi's baby dropped her binky on the floor, so Yumi washed it quickly.
countable noun used with possessive
When little Antonia started to cry, Chidi handed her the blue binky.
article 'the' + adjective 'blue' modifying 'binky'
The binky fell out of the pram while Ravindra was pushing it down the street.
Aylin always keeps a spare binky in her nappy bag for emergencies.
Beatrix washed the binky in hot, soapy water every evening before bed.
- pacifier
the most widely understood term, especially in American English; 'pacifier' sounds slightly more formal than 'binky'
- dummy
the common term in British and Australian English; 'dummy' can also mean 'stupid person', so context matters
- soother
used mainly in Irish and Scottish English; less common worldwide
用法筆記
Binky started as a specific brand name but is now often used as a general word for any baby's pacifier, similar to 'Kleenex' for tissues.