nuzzle

nuzzle
/nuz"euhl/, v., nuzzled, nuzzling, n.
v.i.
1. to burrow or root with the nose, snout, etc., as an animal does: a rabbit nuzzling into the snow.
2. to thrust the nose, muzzle, etc.: The dog nuzzled up to his master.
3. to lie very close to someone or something; cuddle or snuggle up.
v.t.
4. to root up with the nose, snout, etc.: training pigs to nuzzle truffles from the ground.
5. to touch or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc.
6. to thrust the nose, muzzle, snout, etc., against or into: The horse was nuzzling my pocket for sugar.
7. to thrust (the nose or head), as into something.
8. to lie very close to; cuddle or snuggle up to.
n.
9. an affectionate embrace or cuddle.
[1375-1425; late ME noselen to grovel; orig. uncert.]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nuzzle — Nuz zle (n[u^]z z l), v. i. [Dim. fr. nose. See {Nozzle}.] 1. To work with the nose, like a swine in the mud. [1913 Webster] And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine Sheathed, unaware, the tusk in his soft groin. Shak. [1913 Webster] He… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nuzzle — Nuz zle (n[u^]z z l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Nuzzled} (n[u^]z z ld);p. pr. & vb. n. {Nuzzling} (n[u^]z zl[i^]ng).] [See {Noursle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To noursle or nurse; to foster; to bring up. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The people had been nuzzled in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nuzzle — (v.) early 15c., to bring the nose to the ground, back formation from noselyng on the nose, prostrate, frequentative of NOSE (Cf. nose) (v.); meaning burrow with the nose is first attested 1520s; that of lie snug is from 1590s, influenced by… …   Etymology dictionary

  • nuzzle — [v] cuddle bundle, burrow, caress, fondle, nestle, nudge, pet, snug, snuggle; concepts 190,612 …   New thesaurus

  • nuzzle — ► VERB ▪ rub or push against gently with the nose and mouth. ORIGIN from NOSE(Cf. ↑nose) …   English terms dictionary

  • nuzzle — [nuz′əl] vt. nuzzled, nuzzling [ME noselen < nose, NOSE + freq. elen] 1. to push against or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc. 2. to root up with the nose or snout: said of a pig, etc. vi. 1. to push or rub with the nose, etc. against or… …   English World dictionary

  • nuzzle up — v. (D; intr.) to nuzzle up against; to (the dog nuzzled up against her) * * * to (the dog nuzzle upd up against her) (D;intr.) to nuzzle up against …   Combinatory dictionary

  • nuzzle — nuz|zle [ˈnʌzəl] v also nuzzle up [I always + adverb/preposition, T] [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: nose] to gently rub or press your nose or head against someone to show you like them ▪ Evan leaned forward and began nuzzling her shoulder. nuzzle… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • nuzzle — UK [ˈnʌz(ə)l] / US verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms nuzzle : present tense I/you/we/they nuzzle he/she/it nuzzles present participle nuzzling past tense nuzzled past participle nuzzled to press your nose or face against something gently …   English dictionary

  • nuzzle — Noursle Nour sle, v. t. [Freq., fr. OE. nourse. See {Nurse}.] To nurse; to rear; to bring up. [Obs.] [Written also {nosel}, {nousel}, {nousle}, {nowsle}, {nusle}, {nuzzle}, etc.] [1913 Webster] She noursled him till years he raught. Spenser.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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