cuddle
/ˈkʌd.l̩/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.40 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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).
American usage
noun
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).
British usage
verb
To lie together snugly (with someone), in an intimate physical embrace; to snuggle.
American usage; Intransitive verb; Transitive verb
Example Sentences
- "I'm so impatient / I can't stand the wait / When will I get my cuddle?"
- "Give me a cuddle, Paul; it'll cheer you up."
- "The young lovers cuddled on the couch."
- "She cuddled the infant before bedtime."
- "I'm cold; can you roll over here and cuddle me, honey?"
- "She cuddles low behind the brake; / Nor would she stay, nor dares she fly."
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Usage
- American usage
- British usage
- Intransitive verb
- Transitive verb