hug
[verb]
Synonyms:
- clasp, cuddle, embrace, enfold, hold close, squeeze, take in one's arms
[noun]
Synonyms:
- embrace, bear hug, clasp, clinch (slang), squeeze

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English Thesaurus: hug, embrace, cuddle, put your arms around somebody, cradle, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. hug¹ /hʌɡ/ verb (past tense and past participle hugged, present participle hugging) [transitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language]

1. to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly to show love or friendship Synonym : embrace:
We stood there crying and hugging each other.
She went to her daughter and hugged her tightly.

2. to put your arms around yourself
hug your knees/arms/legs etc
Sarah sat on the floor, hugging her knees.
hug yourself
She stood hugging herself against the cold.

3. to move along the side, edge, top etc of something, staying very close to it:
The small boats hugged the coast.

4. if clothes hug your body, they fit closely ⇒ close-fitting
body-/figure-hugging
a figure-hugging dress

5. to hold something in your arms close to your chest:
He was hugging a big pile of books.

6. hug yourself with joy/delight etc British English to feel very pleased with yourself:
Kate hugged herself with pleasure after receiving the award.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. hug² noun [countable]
the action of putting your arms around someone and holding them tightly to show love or friendship Synonym : embrace:
Paul gave me a big hug.
Nesta greeted the visitors with hugs and kisses.
⇒ bear hug

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

hug
noun
ADJ. big | affectionate, comforting, friendly, loving, reassuring, warm | quick
VERB + HUG give sb He gave the children a quick hug, then got into the car.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

hug
verb
ADV. close, tight/tightly James went to his daughter and hugged her tightly.
gently | fiercely
PREP. to He reached out and hugged her to him.
PHRASES hug and kiss sb

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

hug (also give somebody a hug) to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly to show love or friendship:
Mother hugged him and tucked him into bed.
Come here and give me a big hug.
embrace to put your arms around someone and hold him or her in a caring way. Embrace is more formal than hug:
Jason warmly embraced his son.
The two leaders embraced each other.
cuddle to put your arms around someone or something as a sign of love, especially a child or a small animal:
She sat on a chair, cuddling her daughter.
He cuddled the puppy.
put your arms around somebody to hold someone closely to your body, especially to comfort them or show that you love them:
The woman put her arms around the sobbing boy.
cradle written to hold someone very gently in your arms, like you would hold a baby:
She held the baby in her arms.
She cradled his head in her hands and kissed him on the forehead

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲