cuddle

Plural: cuddles

Noun

a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace
An intimate physical embrace, typically while lying (or sitting): a snuggle, an instance of lying together snugly, as one might with a partner (more intimate than a hug, and typically of longer duration).
An affectionate embrace, a hug, such as is given to family members and close friends (less intimate than a snuggle, and typically of shorter duration).

Verb

Verb Forms: cuddled, cuddling, cuddles

To hold closely and tenderly; to embrace affectionately.
move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
- "We cuddled against each other to keep warm"
hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth
- "I cuddled the baby"
To lie together snugly (with someone), in an intimate physical embrace; to snuggle.
To embrace (someone) affectionately; to hug (someone) closely.
To cradle (e.g. a baby) in one's arms so as to give comfort, warmth.
To lie close or snug; to crouch; to nestle.

Examples

Give me a cuddle, Paul; it'll cheer you up.
He wanted to CUDDLE his victory, but his opponent was already setting up for a rematch.
I'm cold; can you roll over here and cuddle me, honey?
She cuddled the infant before bedtime.
The young lovers cuddled on the couch.

Origin / Etymology

Origin uncertain, but probably from a frequentative form of Middle English *cudden, cuththen, keththen (“to embrace”), a variant of cuthen, kuthen, kithen (“to be familiar with, make known”), from Middle English cuth, couth (“known, familiar”), equivalent to couth + -le. Cognate with Middle Dutch kudden (“to come together, flock together”). More at couth.

Synonyms

draw close, nest, nestle, nuzzle, snuggle

Scrabble Score: 10

cuddle: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
cuddle: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
cuddle: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

cuddle: valid Words With Friends Word