cuddle
/'kʌdl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace, typically expressing warmth, comfort, or love.
Verb (transitive):
- To hold a person, animal, or sometimes an object close in one's arms as a way of showing affection, providing comfort, or sharing warmth.
- Verb (intransitive):
- To move or position oneself close to someone or something in a comfortable, cozy, and affectionate manner.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The baby fell asleep after a long cuddle with her mother.
- He gave her a warm cuddle to make her feel better.
Verb (transitive):
- She cuddled the puppy to calm it down.
- I love to cuddle my daughter before she goes to sleep.
Verb (intransitive):
- The kittens cuddled together for warmth.
- They cuddled on the sofa while watching a movie.
Advanced Usage
"to cuddle up": To settle into a comfortable, cozy, and close position, often for warmth or affection.
- On cold nights, we cuddle up under a thick blanket.
- The child cuddled up to her favorite teddy bear.
"to have a cuddle": To engage in an act of cuddling.
- Let's have a cuddle before you leave for work.
Variants and Related Words
- Cuddly (adjective): Appealing and pleasant to cuddle; soft and inviting affection.
- The toy rabbit is so soft and cuddly.
- Cuddlesome (adjective): Another term for 'cuddly'.
- The puppy is incredibly cuddlesome.
Synonyms
- Hug: To hold someone tightly in one's arms, typically as an expression of affection. (A 'hug' can be briefer than a 'cuddle'.)
- Snuggle: To settle or move into a warm, comfortable, and close position. (Often used interchangeably with 'cuddle'.)
- Embrace: A more formal term for holding someone closely in one's arms.
- Nestle: To settle or lie comfortably within or against something.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Cuddle up (to/with someone/something): To move close to someone or something for comfort, warmth, or affection.
- He cuddled up to his partner for warmth.
- The cat cuddled up with the dog.
Related Idioms
- (As) cuddly as a teddy bear: Used to describe someone or something that is very soft, warm, and inviting to cuddle.
- My new sweater is as cuddly as a teddy bear.
- A cuddle puddle: A playful, informal term for a group of people or animals cuddling together closely.
- The pile of sleeping puppies was a perfect cuddle puddle.
Noun
- a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace
Verb
- hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth
- I cuddled the baby
- move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
- We cuddled against each other to keep warm
- The children snuggled into their sleeping bags