Adjacent Words

Hug definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HUG, v.t.
1. To press close in an embrace.
--And hugged me in his arms.
2. To embrace closely; to hold fast; to treat with fondness.
We hug deformities, if they bear our names.
3. To gripe in wrestling or scuffling.
To hug the land, in sailing, to sail as near the land as possible.
hug the wind, to keep the ship close-hauled.
HUG, n. A close embrace.
1. A particular gripe in wrestling or scuffling.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a tight or amorous embrace; "come here and give me a big hug" [syn: hug, clinch, squeeze] v
1: squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness; "Hug me, please"; "They embraced"; "He hugged her close to him" [syn: embrace, hug, bosom, squeeze]
2: fit closely or tightly; "The dress hugged her hips"

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb (hugged; hugging) Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hugga to soothe Date: 1567 1. to press tightly especially in the arms 2. a. congratulate b. to hold fast ; cherish <hugged his miseries like a sulky child — John Buchan> 3. to stay close to <the road hugs the river> • hug noun • huggable adjective • hugger noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v.tr. (hugged, hugging) 1 squeeze tightly in one's arms, esp. with affection. 2 (of a bear) squeeze (a person) between its forelegs. 3 keep close to (the shore, kerb, etc.). 4 cherish or cling to (prejudices etc.). 5 refl. congratulate or be pleased with (oneself). --n. 1 a strong clasp with the arms. 2 a squeezing grip in wrestling. Derivatives: huggable adj. Etymology: 16th c.: prob. f. Scand.: cf. ON hugga console

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hug Hug, n. A close embrace or clasping with the arms, as in affection or in wrestling. --Fuller.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hug Hug, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Hugging.] [Prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. sidde paa huk to squat, Sw. huka sig to squat, Icel. h?ka. Cf. Huckster.] 1. To cower; to crouch; to curl up. [Obs.] --Palsgrave. 2. To crowd together; to cuddle. [Obs.] --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hug Hug, v. t. 1. To press closely within the arms; to clasp to the bosom; to embrace. ``And huggen me in his arms.'' --Shak. 2. To hold fast; to cling to; to cherish. We hug deformities if they bear our names. --Glanvill. 3. (Naut.) To keep close to; as, to hug the land; to hug the wind. To hug one's self, to congratulate one's self; to chuckle.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(hugs, hugging, hugged) 1. When you hug someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, for example because you like them or are pleased to see them. You can also say that two people hug each other or that they hug. She had hugged him exuberantly and invited him to dinner the next day... We hugged and kissed. = embrace V-RECIP: V n (non-recip), pl-n V • Hug is also a noun. Syvil leapt out of the back seat, and gave him a hug. N-COUNT 2. If you hug something, you hold it close to your body with your arms tightly round it. Shaerl trudged toward them, hugging a large box... She hugged her legs tight to her chest... VERB: V n, V n adv/prep 3. Something that hugs the ground or a stretch of land or water stays very close to it. (WRITTEN) The road hugs the coast for hundreds of miles... VERB: V n 4. see also bear hug

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Embrace, clasp, fold in the arms, fold to the breast or heart. 2. Retain, cherish, nurse in the mind, hold fast, cling to, keep hold of. 3. (Naut.) Go near, keep close to. II. n. Embrace, clasp.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To hug brown bess; to carry a firelock, or serve as a private soldier. He hugs it as the Devil hugs a witch: said of one who holds any thing as if he was afraid of losing it.

Foolish Dictionary

A roundabout way of expressing affection.

Moby Thesaurus

abduct, accost, accueil, address, adhere, adhere to, agglomerate, around, bear, bear hug, bite, bob, bosom, bow, bunch, carry off, cherish, clamp, clasp, cleave, cleave to, clench, clinch, cling, cling to, clinging, clip, clot, cluster, clutch, coagulate, cohere, congeal, conglomerate, curtsy, death grip, embosom, embrace, enfold, enfoldment, entertain, firm hold, fold, follow close upon, fondle, foothold, footing, foster, freeze to, glad hand, go with, grapple, grasp, greeting, grip, gripe, grow together, hail, hand-clasp, handshake, hang about, hang on, hang on to, hang together, harbor, have, have and hold, hearty welcome, hello, hold, hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hold together, hover over, how-do-you-do, huddle, hug the shore, iron grip, keep, keep close to, keep hold of, kidnap, kiss, lie by, make welcome, march with, mass, never let go, nip, nod, nurse, nurture, open arms, persist, press, purchase, reception, salutation, salute, seizure, set, shanghai, smile, smile of recognition, smiling reception, solidify, squeeze, stand by, stay, stay inshore, stay near, stay put, stick, stick to, stick together, tailgate, take hold of, the glad hand, throttle, tight grip, toehold, treasure, treasure up, wave, welcome, welcome mat, welcoming