NUZZLE

nuzzle

(verb) dig out with the snout; “the pig nuzzled the truffle”

nuzzle, nose

(verb) rub noses

cuddle, snuggle, nestle, nest, nuzzle, draw close

(verb) move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position; “We cuddled against each other to keep warm”; “The children snuggled into their sleeping bags”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

nuzzle (third-person singular simple present nuzzles, present participle nuzzling, simple past and past participle nuzzled)

(ambitransitive) (of animals, lovers, etc) To touch someone or something with the nose.

(obsolete) To nurse; to foster; to bring up.

(obsolete) To nestle; to house, as in a nest.

(obsolete) To go along with the nose to the ground, like a pig.

Source: Wiktionary


Nuz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nuzzied;p. pr. & vb. n. Nuzzling.] Etym: [See Noursle.]

1. To noursle or nurse; to foster; to bring up. [Obs.] The people had been nuzzled in idolatry. Milton.

2. Etym: [Perh. a corruption of nestle. Cf. Nustle.]

Definition: To nestle; to house, as in a nest.

Nuz"zle, v. i. Etym: [Dim. fr. nose. See Nozzle.]

1. To work with the nose, like a swine in the mud. And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine Sheathed, unaware, the tusk in his soft groin. Shak. He charged through an army of lawyers, sometimes . . . nuzzling like an eel in the mud. Arbuthnot.

2. To go with head poised like a swine, with nose down. Sir Roger shook his ears, and nuzzled along. Arbuthnot.

3. Etym: [Cf. Nuzzle, v. t., 2.]

Definition: To hide the head, as a child in the mother's bosom; to nestle.

4. To loiter; to idle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

1 May 2025

ECONOMIC

(adjective) of or relating to an economy, the system of production and management of material wealth; “economic growth”; “aspects of social, political, and economical life”


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