NUZZLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nuzzle mean? 

• NUZZLE (verb)
  The verb NUZZLE has 3 senses:

1. move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

2. rub noses

3. dig out with the snout

  Familiarity information: NUZZLE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NUZZLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they nuzzle    ... he / she / it nuzzles   
Past simple: nuzzled   
Past participle: nuzzled   
-ing form: nuzzling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

cuddle; draw close; nest; nestle; nuzzle; snuggle

Context example:

The children snuggled into their sleeping bags

Hypernyms (to "nuzzle" is one way to...):

cling to; clutch; hold close; hold tight (hold firmly, usually with one's hands)

Verb group:

nestle; snuggle (position comfortably)

draw close (pull towards oneself)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue nuzzle
Sam cannot nuzzle Sue

Sense 2

Meaning:

Rub noses

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

nose; nuzzle

Hypernyms (to "nuzzle" is one way to...):

caress; fondle (touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Dig out with the snout

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

the pig nuzzled the truffle

Hypernyms (to "nuzzle" is one way to...):

dig up; excavate; turn up (find by digging in the ground)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

 Context examples 

My horror and astonishment are not to be described, when I observed in this abominable animal, a perfect human figure: the face of it indeed was flat and broad, the nose depressed, the lips large, and the mouth wide; but these differences are common to all savage nations, where the lineaments of the countenance are distorted, by the natives suffering their infants to lie grovelling on the earth, or by carrying them on their backs, nuzzling with their face against the mothers’ shoulders.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)