babysit

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To watch or tend someone else's child for a period of time, often for money.

   My daughter is babysitting for the Morgans at number ten, who are going out on a date night.

2. 2
   verb

   To watch or tend a thing or process without normally intervening in it, e.g. as a precaution should an emergency happen.

   The reaction takes several hours, so we leave a graduate student to babysit it.

3. 3
   verb

   To watch or attend anything or anyone more closely than ought to be needed; to have to help or coax too much.

   He left me to babysit the new guy while he got some work done.

Etymology

Back-formation from babysitter.