Nuzzle

/ˈnʌzl̩/ · verb

Meaning

To push or thrust (the nose or snout, face or muzzle, or head, or an object) against or into something..

Definitions by Sense

1. To push or thrust (the nose or snout, face or muzzle, or head, or an object) against or into something.
2. To rub or touch (someone or something) with the nose, face, etc., or an object.
3. Chiefly of an animal: to dig (something, especially food) out of the ground using the nose or snout; to root.
4. Often followed by in or into: to press or push the nose or snout, mouth, face, etc., against or into someone or something; to touch someone or something with the nose or snout, etc.
5. Chiefly of an animal: to push the nose or snout into the ground to dig for something, especially food; to root, to rootle.
6. Followed by down: to settle or lie comfortably and snugly in a bed, nest, etc.; to nestle.
7. Chiefly followed by up or with: to press affectionately against someone or something; to nestle, to snuggle.
8. To come into close contact with someone or something.

Example Sentences

[T]he Dogge nuſling his noſe vnder the necke of the Deare, the Wolfe glad to let the Lambe lye vpon hym to kéepe him warme, the Lyon ſuffering the Aſſe to caſt hys legge ouer him: preferring one honeſt vnmannerly friende, before a number of croutching picke-thankes.

Shee [Wisdom] nuzzleth her ſelfe in his [the scholar's] boſom, cheriſheth his ſoule, lifts-vp his lovve-groueling thoghts as high as Heauen: […]

Then at the Play-Houſe ye ogle the Boxes, and dop and bovv to thoſe you do not knovv, as vvell as thoſe you do. […] You nuzzle your Noſes into their Hoods and Commodes, […]

Miſs Sprightly and you are alvvays nuzling your Heads together.

When the lions came to Rosalba, instead of devouring her with their great teeth, it was with kisses they gobbled her up! They licked her pretty feet, they nuzzled their noses in her lap, they moo'd, they seemed to say, "Dear, dear sister, don't you recollect your brothers in the forest?" And she put her pretty white arms round their tawny necks, and kissed them.

The horse nuzzled its foal’s head gently to wake him up.

She nuzzled her girlfriend in the cinema.

Some twenty whale-boats were nuzzling a sand-bank which was dotted with English soldiery of half a dozen corps, bathing or washing their clothes.

Synonyms for nuzzle

Antonyms for nuzzle

Related Words

Word Forms

• nuzzles
• nuzzling
• nuzzled
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• nuzzle
• nuzzlest
• nuzzledst
• nuzzleth
• -
• nosel
• nousel
• nousle
• nowsle
• nusle

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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