nuzzle

[ nuhz-uhl ]

/ ˈnʌz əl /

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See synonyms for: nuzzle / nuzzled on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), nuz·zled, nuz·zling.

to burrow or root with the nose, snout, etc., as an animal does: a rabbit nuzzling into the snow.

to thrust the nose, muzzle, etc.: The dog nuzzled up to his master.

to lie very close to someone or something; cuddle or snuggle up.

verb (used with object), nuz·zled, nuz·zling.

to root up with the nose, snout, etc.: training pigs to nuzzle truffles from the ground.

to touch or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc.

to thrust the nose, muzzle, snout, etc., against or into: The horse was nuzzling my pocket for sugar.

to thrust (the nose or head), as into something.

to lie very close to; cuddle or snuggle up to.

noun

an affectionate embrace or cuddle.

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of nuzzle

1375–1425; late Middle English noselen to grovel; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM nuzzle

un·nuz·zled, adjective

Words nearby nuzzle

N.U.W.W., Nuxalk, nux vomica, Nuyorican, Nuyts Land, nuzzle, NV, nvCJD, NVQ, NW, NWbN

How to use nuzzle in a sentence

The frightful head whipped back at the end of the long neck, to nuzzle at the seared spot.
The Red Hell of Jupiter|Paul Ernst
Taggi came to lick his face, nuzzle him, making a small, bewildered whimpering.
Storm Over Warlock|Andre Norton
She goes miles away by the sea-side and walks into the water, like a Christian, to nuzzle up crabs among the rocks.
Three Courses and a Dessert|Anonymous
It would be so nice just to lean back and nuzzle up to her, down in the sand.
The Hunted Heroes|Robert Silverberg

The paper dropped into the ditch and lay still, and the pony began to nuzzle Janice's hand.
Janice Day|Helen Beecher Long

British Dictionary definitions for nuzzle

nuzzle

/ (ˈnʌzəl) /

verb

to push or rub gently against the nose or snout

(intr) to nestle; lie close

(tr) to dig out with the snout

Word Origin for nuzzle

C15: nosele, from nose (n)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

nuzzle

Origin of nuzzle

OTHER WORDS FROM nuzzle

Words nearby nuzzle

Words related to nuzzle

How to use nuzzle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nuzzle

Word Origin for nuzzle