Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense caresses, present participle caressing, past tense, past participle caressed
verb
If you caress someone, you stroke them gently and affectionately.
[written]
He was gently caressing her golden hair. [VERB noun]
Caress is also a noun.
Margaret took me to one side, holding my arm in a gentle caress.
More Synonyms of caress
caress in British English
(kəˈrɛs)
noun
1.
a gentle touch or embrace, esp one given to show affection
verb
2. (transitive)
to touch or stroke gently with affection or as with affection
the wind caressed her face
Derived forms
caresser (caˈresser)
noun
caressingly (caˈressingly)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from French caresse, from Italian carezza, from Latin cārus dear
caress in American English
(kəˈrɛs)
verb transitive
1.
to touch or stroke lovingly or gently; also, to embrace or kiss
often used figuratively, as of a voice or music
2.
to treat kindly or affectionately
noun
3.
an affectionate touch or gesture, as a kiss, embrace, etc.
SYNONYMY NOTE: caress refers to a display of affection by gentle stroking or patting; , fondle implies a more demonstrative show of love or affection, as by hugging or kissing;, pet1, as applied generally, implies treatment with special affection and indulgence, includingpatting, fondling, etc., but informally it refers to indulgence, esp. by young couples,in hugging, kissing, and amorous caresses; , cuddle implies affectionate handling, as of a small child by its mother, by pressing ordrawing close within the arms; , dandle implies the showing of playful affection toward a child by moving him or her up anddown lightly on the knee
Derived forms
caresser (caˈresser)
noun
caressingly (caˈressingly)
adverb
caressive (caˈressive)
adjective
caressively (caˈressively)
adverb
Word origin
Fr caresser < It carezzare; ult. < L carus, dear: see charity
Examples of 'caress' in a sentence
caress
I leaned against the windowsill where the late afternoon sun could caress my back.
Anita Anderson SUMMER OF SECRETS (2003)
She felt his lips brush against her forehead, heard his words, harsh in meaning, but spoken in a whispered caress.
Lawson, Jonell ROSES ARE FOR THE RICH (2003)
In other languages
caress
British English: caress VERB
If you caress someone, you stroke them gently and affectionately.
He was gently caressing her golden hair.
American English: caress
Brazilian Portuguese: acariciar
Chinese: 抚摸
European Spanish: acariciar
French: caresser
German: streicheln
Italian: accarezzare
Japanese: 優しくなでる
Korean: 쓰다듬다
European Portuguese: acariciar
Latin American Spanish: acariciar
Chinese translation of 'caress'
caress
(kəˈrɛs)
vt
爱(愛)抚(撫) (àifǔ)
n(c)
爱(愛)抚(撫) (àifǔ)
(noun)
Definition
a gentle affectionate touch or embrace
Margaret held my arm in a gentle caress.
Synonyms
stroke
He was sending the ball into the net with each stroke.
pat
He gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
kiss
embrace
We were locked in a loving embrace.
hug
I leapt out of the seat, and gave him a hug.
cuddle
fondling
(verb)
Definition
to touch gently and affectionately
They kissed and caressed one another.
Synonyms
stroke
She was absentmindedly stroking her cat.
cuddle
He cuddled their newborn baby.
fondle
He took the child from her mother and fondled her.
pet
A woman sat petting a cocker spaniel.
embrace
Penelope came forward and embraced her sister.
hug
They hugged each other like a couple of lost children.
nuzzle
The dog came and nuzzled up against me.
neck (informal)
They were necking together on the sofa when I came in.
kiss
The wheels of the aircraft kissed the runway.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cuddle
Definition
to hug or embrace fondly
He cuddled their newborn baby.
Synonyms
hug,
embrace,
clasp,
fondle,
cosset
in the sense of embrace
Definition
an act of embracing
We were locked in a loving embrace.
Synonyms
hug,
hold,
cuddle,
squeeze,
clinch (slang),
clasp,
canoodle (slang)
in the sense of embrace
Definition
to clasp (someone) with one's arms as an expression of affection or a greeting