caress

  • 1Caress — Ca*ress , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Caressed} (k[.a]*r[e^]st ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Caressing}.] [F. caresser, fr. It. carezzare, fr. carezza caress. See {Caress}., n.] To treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness; to touch or speak to in a… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2caress — vb Caress, fondle, pet, cosset, cuddle, dandle mean to show affection or love by touching or handling. Caress implies an expression of tender interest (as by soft stroking or patting) or of affection ordinarily without undue familiarity {soothing …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 3caress — [n] loving touch cuddle, embrace, endearment, feel, fondling, hug, kiss, pat, pet, petting, snuggle, squeeze, stroke; concepts 375,590 caress [v] touch lovingly bear hug*, brush, buss, clinch, clutch, coddle, cosset, cuddle, dandle, embrace, feel …

    New thesaurus

  • 4caress — [kə res′] vt. [Fr caresser < It carezzare; ult. < L carus, dear: see CHARITY] 1. to touch or stroke lovingly or gently; also, to embrace or kiss: often used figuratively, as of a voice or music 2. to treat kindly or affectionately n. an… …

    English World dictionary

  • 5Caress — Ca*ress (k[.a]*r[e^]s ), n. [F. caresse, It. carezza, LL. caritia dearness, fr. L. carus dear. See {Charity}.] An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness. [1913 Webster] Wooed her with his …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6caress — (n.) 1640s, from Fr. caresse (15c.), from It. carezza, from caro “dear,” from L. carus (see WHORE (Cf. whore)). The verb is 1650s, from Fr. caresser, from It. carezzare endearment, from carezza. Related: Caressed; caressing …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 7caress — ► VERB ▪ touch or stroke gently or lovingly. ► NOUN ▪ a gentle or loving touch. DERIVATIVES caressing adjective caressingly adverb. ORIGIN French caresser, from Latin carus dear …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8caress — I UK [kəˈres] / US verb [transitive] Word forms caress : present tense I/you/we/they caress he/she/it caresses present participle caressing past tense caressed past participle caressed 1) to move your hands gently over someone s face or body in a …

    English dictionary

  • 9caress — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ gentle, soft ▪ the gentle caress of his fingers ▪ tender, warm {{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}} verb ADVERB …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 10caress — I n. a gentle caress II v. to caress gently * * * [kə res] a gentle caress to caressgently …

    Combinatory dictionary