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

Almost three terrifying hours later, the police found her, huddled on a neighbor’s porch.

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Only a handful of people are huddled near the holographic pucks, discussing animatedly among themselves like my teachers debating about who the worst football team is.

Read more on Literature

Once outside, she huddled in her borrowed cloak and stamped her feet against the chill, first the right foot, then the left.

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With that, Penelope, with some misgivings, to be sure, but not knowing what else to do, left the three Incorrigible children huddled in the doorway.

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The following day, a lieutenant in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s homicide unit emailed Mitlyng, asking the detective to huddle with the prosecutor on the case.

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Related Words

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