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cuddle

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌd.l̩/

The English word “cuddle” has 6 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. An intimate physical embrace, typically while lying (or sitting): a snuggle, an instance of lying together snugly, as one might with a partner (more intimate than a hug, and typically of longer duration).
  2. An affectionate embrace, a hug, such as is given to family members and close friends (less intimate than a snuggle, and typically of shorter duration).

verb

  1. To lie together snugly (with someone), in an intimate physical embrace; to snuggle.
  2. To embrace (someone) affectionately; to hug (someone) closely.
  3. To cradle (e.g. a baby) in one's arms so as to give comfort, warmth.
  4. To lie close or snug; to crouch; to nestle.

Etymology

Origin uncertain, but probably from a frequentative form of Middle English *cudden, cuththen, keththen (“to embrace”), a variant of cuthen, kuthen, kithen (“to be familiar with, make known”), from Middle English cuth, couth (“known, familiar”), equivalent to couth + -le. Cognate with Middle Dutch kudden (“to come together, flock together”). More at couth.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.