CODDLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does coddle mean? 

• CODDLE (verb)
  The verb CODDLE has 2 senses:

1. treat with excessive indulgence

2. cook in nearly boiling water

  Familiarity information: CODDLE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CODDLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they coddle    ... he / she / it coddles   
Past simple: coddled   
Past participle: coddled   
-ing form: coddling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Treat with excessive indulgence

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

baby; cocker; coddle; cosset; featherbed; indulge; mollycoddle; pamper; spoil

Context example:

Let's not mollycoddle our students!

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

do by; handle; treat (interact in a certain way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

coddler (someone who pampers or spoils by excessive indulgence)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cook in nearly boiling water

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

coddle eggs

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

cook (transform and make suitable for consumption by heating)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The chef wants to coddle the eggs

 Context examples 

I suspect she is right, and that I've been coddling the fellow as if I'd been his grandmother.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Be satisfied with doctoring and coddling yourself and the children, and let me look as I chuse.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)