Definition

1. Noun:

   • A gentle, loving, or affectionate touch or stroke: A "caress" refers to a soft, tender touch, often expressing love, affection, or endearment.
   • Something that resembles such a gentle, soothing touch: "Caress" can also describe something non-physical that feels similarly gentle and pleasing, like a soft sound or a light breeze.

2. Verb:

   • To touch or stroke gently and lovingly: To "caress" means to touch someone or something softly in a way that shows affection or tenderness.

Examples

• Noun:
  • She felt the warm caress of the sun on her skin.
  • The mother's gentle caress calmed the crying baby.
• Verb:
  • He caressed her cheek with his thumb.
  • The wind caressed the leaves of the trees.

Advanced Usage

• As a metaphor for gentle influence: "Caress" can be used figuratively to describe something that affects something else in a very soft, gentle manner.
  • The poet's words were a caress to her wounded spirit.
• In a literary or descriptive context: Often used to create a vivid, sensory image of tenderness.
  • The silk caressed her skin as she moved.

Variants and Related Words

• Caressing (adj): Having a gentle, loving, or soothing quality.
  • She spoke in a caressing voice.
• Caressingly (adv): In a caressing manner.
  • He smiled caressingly.

Synonyms

• Stroke (v/n): To move one's hand gently over a surface; a gentle touch.
• Fondle (v): To handle or touch lovingly, though sometimes with a more intimate connotation.
• Pet (v): To stroke or pat gently, often used for animals.
• Touch (v/n): General term for physical contact.

Related Phrases

• A caress of the breeze/wind: A common phrase describing a very light, pleasant wind.
  • They enjoyed the caress of the evening breeze.
• To be caressed by light/sound: A poetic way to describe being gently touched by something non-physical.
  • The room was caressed by the soft morning light.

Idioms

(This word is not commonly used in fixed idiomatic expressions. Its meaning is typically direct and literal or metaphorical as described above.)

Noun

1. a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)
   • he showered her with caresses
   • soft music was a fond caress
   • the caresses of the breeze played over his face

Verb

1. touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
   • He caressed her face
   • They fondled in the back seat of the taxi