CARESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does caress mean? 

• CARESS (noun)
  The noun CARESS has 1 sense:

1. a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)

  Familiarity information: CARESS used as a noun is very rare.

• CARESS (verb)
  The verb CARESS has 1 sense:

1. touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner

  Familiarity information: CARESS used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CARESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the caresses of the breeze played over his face

Hypernyms ("caress" is a kind of...):

stroke; stroking (a light touch with the hands)

Derivation:

caress (touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner)

• CARESS (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they caress    ... he / she / it caresses   
Past simple: caressed   
Past participle: caressed   
-ing form: caressing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

caress; fondle

Context example:

They fondled in the back seat of the taxi

Hypernyms (to "caress" is one way to...):

stroke (touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "caress"):

paw (touch clumsily)

grope (fondle for sexual pleasure)

dandle (pet)

pet (stroke or caress in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking)

chuck; pat (pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin)

nose; nuzzle (rub noses)

pet (stroke or caress gently)

tickle (touch or stroke lightly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue caress
Sam cannot caress Sue

Derivation:

caress (a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it))

 Context examples 

At any moment that soft, confidence-inspiring voice might break forth in a roar of wrath, that gentle and caressing hand transform itself into a vice-like grip to hold him helpless and administer punishment.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

And to Martin Eden's supreme surprise, she burst into a storm of tears that took more kisses than one and many caresses to drive away.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Sometimes the languid sea rose over him and he dreamed long dreams; but ever through it all, waking and dreaming, he waited for the wheezing breath and the harsh caress of the tongue.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

‘My dear young lady! my dear young lady!’—you cannot think how caressing and soothing his manner was—‘and what has frightened you, my dear young lady?’

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When Thornton passed a caressing hand along his back, a snapping and crackling followed the hand, each hair discharging its pent magnetism at the contact.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Miss Dartle, leaning back upon the seat, with a light of exultation in her face, seemed almost to caress the sounds this fellow had uttered.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He lifted bundle after bundle in a tender, caressing sort of way.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I like you too well to hurt you,” he said softly—nay, there was a tenderness and a caress in his voice that made me wince.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Don't laugh, but your nose is such a comfort to me, and Amy softly caressed the well-cut feature with artistic satisfaction.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It seemed natural: it seemed genial to be so well loved, so caressed by him.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)