CUDDLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does cuddle mean? 

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

1. a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace

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

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

1. move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

2. hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth

  Familiarity information: CUDDLE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CUDDLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

cuddle; nestle; snuggle

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

embrace; embracement; embracing (the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection))

Derivation:

cuddle (move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position)

cuddle (hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth)

cuddly (inviting cuddling or hugging)

• CUDDLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they cuddle    ... he / she / it cuddles   
Past simple: cuddled   
Past participle: cuddled   
-ing form: cuddling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

cuddle; draw close; nest; nestle; nuzzle; snuggle

Context example:

The children snuggled into their sleeping bags

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

cling to; clutch; hold close; hold tight (hold firmly, usually with one's hands)

Verb group:

nestle; snuggle (position comfortably)

draw close (pull towards oneself)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue cuddle
Sam cannot cuddle Sue

Derivation:

cuddle (a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace)

cuddling (affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

I cuddled the baby

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

bosom; embrace; hug; squeeze (hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness)

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

cuddle (a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace)

cuddling (affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs))

 Context examples 

"Poor old Jo! She came in looking as if bears were after her," said Beth, as she cuddled her sister's feet with a motherly air.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He cuddled to him the notion of her knowing, and chuckled over it as a love joke.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

They go outside, or they don't smoke around their child, but they may not know it's all over them, and when they pick the baby up and cuddle the baby, the baby's getting it through their clothes, their hair.

(Infants, Toddlers at More Risk from Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke than Thought, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

I heard a little sigh of satisfaction as he cuddled the butt into his shoulder; and saw that amazing target, the black man on the yellow ground, standing clear at the end of his foresight.

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

The tall man leaned heavily upon her to take the weight off his tender foot, while he held his burden betwixt himself and the wall, cuddling it jealously to his side, and thrusting forward his young companion to act as a buttress whenever the pressure of the crowd threatened to bear him away.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One of the captivating children, who seem made to be kissed and cuddled, adorned and adored like little goddesses, and produced for general approval on all festive occasions.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

When they went back to be kissed and cuddled by faithful Hannah, they found Beth lying, as she used to do, with her cheek pillowed on her hand, the dreadful pallor gone, and breathing quietly, as if just fallen asleep.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Demi lay fast asleep, not in his usual spreadeagle attitude, but in a subdued bunch, cuddled close in the circle of his father's arm and holding his father's finger, as if he felt that justice was tempered with mercy, and had gone to sleep a sadder and wiser baby.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A poor, bare, miserable room it was, with broken windows, no fire, ragged bedclothes, a sick mother, wailing baby, and a group of pale, hungry children cuddled under one old quilt, trying to keep warm.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)