huddle

[huhd-l]

verb (used without object)

huddled, huddling 

1. to gather or crowd together in a close mass.

2. to crouch, curl up, or draw oneself together.

3. Football.,  to get together in a huddle.

4. to confer or consult; meet to discuss, exchange ideas, or make a decision.

verb (used with object)

huddled, huddling 

1. to heap or crowd together closely.

2. to draw (oneself ) closely together, as in crouching; nestle (often followed byup ).

3. Chiefly British.,  to do hastily and carelessly (often followed by up, over, ortogether ).

4. to put on (clothes) with careless haste (often followed byon ).

noun

1. a closely gathered group, mass, or heap; bunch.

2. Football.,  a gathering of the offensive team in a close circle or line behind the line of scrimmage for instructions, signals, etc., from the team captain or quarterback, usually held before each offensive play.

3. a conference, or consultation, especially a private meeting to discuss serious matters.

   The labor representatives have been in a huddle for two hours.

4. confusion or disorder.

huddle

/ ˈhʌdəl /

noun

1. a heaped or crowded mass of people or things

2. informal,  a private or impromptu conference (esp in the phrase go into a huddle )

verb

1. to crowd or cause to crowd or nestle closely together

2. (often foll by up) to draw or hunch (oneself), as through cold

3. informal,  (intr) to meet and confer privately

4. (tr) to do (something) in a careless way

5. rare,  (tr) to put on (clothes) hurriedly

Other Word Forms

• huddler noun
• huddlingly adverb
• unhuddle verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of huddle¹

1570–80; hud- (weak grade of root found in hide ¹ ) + -le; replacing Middle English hoder, equivalent to hod- (variant hud- ) + -er -er ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of huddle¹

C16: of uncertain origin; compare Middle English hoderen to wrap up

Idioms and Phrases

see go into a huddle.

Example Sentences

“Rashomon” begins in that torrential downpour, swamping the men who huddle for shelter beneath the pillars of the ancient gate.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When officers searched a seventh-floor apartment and stepped out onto the apartment balcony, there they found their suspects — huddled and trying to stay out of view on a neighboring balcony.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Still, it was a lot more convenient to get quotes at individual desks than huddling around the ticker.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And since coverage in parks is rare—a tree sometimes—all the skaters usually huddle in the same shady place, making chitchat inevitable.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But when it became clear this one was real, he huddled with his staff to decide how much to sweeten the deal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cluster 
• confer 
• consult 
• converge 
• crouch 
• cuddle 
• curl up 
• gather 
• snuggle