cuddle
/ˈkʌdl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌdl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkə-dᵊl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkʌd.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌd.əl/ (ame, ipa)
cuddle — verb
- cuddlepresent simple I / you / we / they
- cuddleshe / she / it
- cuddledpast simple
- cuddling-ing form
1. to wrap your arms gently around a person, child, or pet and hold them against yo
to wrap your arms gently around a person, child, or pet and hold them against your body, showing love, comfort, or warmth — for example, a parent holding a sleepy toddler or two partners pressed together on the sofa.
Nia sat on the porch and cuddled her newborn niece until she fell asleep.
transitive: cuddle + person (held in arms for comfort)
Kenji and Sofia cuddled on the sofa during the long winter movie marathon.
reciprocal: two people cuddle on / in [place]
After the loud thunder, Anjali cuddled the trembling puppy close to her chest.
The young father cuddled his daughter and whispered that the nightmare was over.
Layla wrapped a soft blanket around Élise and cuddled her until the fever broke.
- push away
physical rejection of closeness
文法句型
cuddle + someone
cuddle (reciprocal)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person and the object a child, partner, or pet; in reciprocal use (two people cuddle), it is intransitive and the location of the cuddling is often mentioned (on the sofa, in bed).
常見錯誤
2. to settle yourself into a warm, cozy position close to another person, an animal
to settle yourself into a warm, cozy position close to another person, an animal, or something soft, often by curling up against them or wrapping yourself in something thick.
Dario cuddled up under the heavy quilt and listened to the rain on the window.
cuddle up + under [warm thing]
The kittens cuddled against their mother to stay warm during the cold night.
cuddle against + person/animal for warmth
Mira cuddled up to her grandfather on the wooden bench and asked for another story.
On the long train ride, Sivan cuddled into a wool scarf and slept until morning.
The two children cuddled together inside the small reading tent in the library corner.
文法句型
cuddle up
cuddle up to / against / next to + noun
cuddle into + noun
用法筆記
Only sense that takes 'up', 'up to', 'against', or 'into'; almost always intransitive. Distinguish from sense 1 by the absence of a person being held — here the subject moves into a snug position.
常見錯誤
cuddle — noun
- cuddlesingular
- cuddlesplural
1. a warm, lingering hold in which one person wraps both arms around another (or a
a warm, lingering hold in which one person wraps both arms around another (or a pet) and stays pressed against them for a while, used to express affection or to comfort.
Before bed, the little boy asked his mother for one more cuddle and a story.
give / ask for a cuddle (bedtime affection)
Rachid gave his crying sister a long cuddle after she fell off her bicycle.
give someone a cuddle for comfort
The shelter dog enjoyed a gentle cuddle from every volunteer who walked past the kennel.
After the bad dream, Élise climbed into bed and had a cuddle with her older sister.
The grandmother saved her warmest cuddle for the youngest grandchild on Christmas morning.
文法句型
give someone a cuddle
have a cuddle
用法筆記
Countable; common in the patterns 'give someone a cuddle' and 'have a cuddle (with)'. Implies more duration and warmth than 'hug', which is usually a quick squeeze.