babysitter

UK: /ˈbeɪbisɪtə^r/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈba•by-ˌsit or ˈba•byˌsit, v., -sat, -sit•ting. 

1. to take care of (a child) while the parents are temporarily away: [no obj]:
   I baby-sat while she went shopping.
   [ ~ + obj]:
   She baby-sat our children.
2. [ ~ + obj] to take responsibility for;
   tend:
   You can baby-sit the car while I'm away.

ba•by--sit•ter, ba•by•sit•ter, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ba•by-sit  (bā′bē sit′), v., -sat, -sit•ting. 
v.i. 

1. to take charge of a child while the parents are temporarily away.

v.t. 

2. to baby-sit for (a child):
   We've placed an ad for someone to baby-sit the youngsters in the evening.
3. to take watchful responsibility for;
   tend:
   It will be necessary for someone to baby-sit the machine until it is running properly.
   Also, ba′by•sit′. 

• 1945–50

ba′by-sit′ter, ba′by•sit′ter, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

baby-sitter noun

1. a person who takes care of a child or children while the parents are out