From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdarlingdar‧ling1 /ˈdɑːlɪŋ $ ˈdɑːr-/ ●●○ S3 noun 1 TALK TO somebody spoken used when speaking to someone you love Look, darling, there’s Mary.2 [countable]NICE someone who is very nice You really are a darling, Barney.3 → the darling of something
Examples from the Corpus
darling• He's such a darling.• Breeze darling, you really must try to grow up.• Coach Barry Switzer is another Dallas darling.• Hello darling. Did you have a good day?• But he talked a hell of a fight, and continued to be a comparative media darling.• Don't give up hope, my darling.• You're a fine woman when you're roused, my darling.• You will, won't you, my darling?• I know it, old darling.• Oh, my poor, poor darling.darlingdarling2 adjective [only before noun] 1 LIKE somebody OR somethingused of someone you love very much my two darling daughters2 spoken used when you think someone or something is attractive What a darling little house!Examples from the Corpus
darling• Those pants are darling.• This is my darling little sister.Origin darling1 Old English deorling, from deore “dear” 