Childproofs

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Makes a home, product or space safe for young children by removing or blocking access to dangers such as sharp objects, medicines or electrical outlets
2. Renders an area or item secure against curious little ones who might be harmed by it, often through locks, covers or barriers
3. Adapts surroundings so that infants and toddlers cannot easily reach or injure themselves on hazardous or breakable things

Etymology: "Childproofs" is the third-person singular present form of "childproof", a verb meaning to make something safe for children to be around. The verb is formed from "child" and "proof" in the sense found in "waterproof" or "fireproof", where "proof" means resistant to or secure against something. The "-proof" element is a suffix in its own right, so the verb simply attaches it to "child", producing a plain compound whose meaning can be read directly from its parts: a thing is childproof when it resists the tampering, handling or harm that small children tend to inflict.

Synonyms: baby-proofs