HUG (hugged, hugging)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: hugged    , hugging   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hug mean? 

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

1. a tight or amorous embrace

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

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

1. hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness

2. fit closely or tightly

  Familiarity information: HUG used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HUG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A tight or amorous embrace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

clinch; hug; squeeze

Context example:

come here and give me a big hug

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

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

Derivation:

hug (hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness)

• HUG (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they hug    ... he / she / it hugs   
Past simple: hugged   
Past participle: hugged   
-ing form: hugging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

bosom; embrace; hug; squeeze

Context example:

He hugged her close to him

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

clasp (hold firmly and tightly)

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

clinch (embrace amorously)

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

interlock; lock (become engaged or intermeshed with one another)

Sentence frames:

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

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue hug
Sam cannot hug Sue

Derivation:

hug (a tight or amorous embrace)

hugger (a person who hugs)

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fit closely or tightly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The dress hugged her hips

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

adjoin; contact; meet; touch (be in direct physical contact with; make contact)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

Without putting down the poker, he now hugged me again; and I hugged him; and, both laughing, and both wiping our eyes, we both sat down, and shook hands across the hearth.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

In trooped the whole family, and everyone was hugged and kissed all over again, and after several vain attempts, the three wanderers were set down to be looked at and exulted over.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

There were but few lights in sight at sea, for even the coasting steamers, which usually "hug" the shore so closely, kept well to seaward, and but few fishing-boats were in sight.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“He hugs it to him as the devil hugged the pardoner.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Does the patient take liberties or touch or hug others in a way that is out of character for him/her?

(NPI - Take Liberties or Touch or Hug Others, NCI Thesaurus)

The better to hug you with.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I sat up half the night hugging myself over it, and next day I was off to Birmingham in a train that would take me in plenty time for my appointment.

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

"Yes, he will—I'm sure he will!" she exclaimed fervently, as she drew him to her and kissed and hugged him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But she hugged the soft, stuffed body of the Scarecrow in her arms instead of kissing his painted face, and found she was crying herself at this sorrowful parting from her loving comrades.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

“No shifting, nothing shy, no hugging nor hauling. It’s a shame to let him fight. Take the brave fellow away!”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)