snug

[snuhg]

adjective

snugger, snuggest 

1. warmly comfortable or cozy, as a place, accommodations, etc..

   a snug little house.

2. fitting closely, as a garment.

   a snug jacket.

3. more or less compact or limited in size, and sheltered or warm.

   a snug harbor.

4. trim, neat, or compactly arranged, as a ship or its parts.

   Synonyms: orderly, ordered, tidy

5. comfortably circumstanced, as persons.

6. pleasant or agreeable, especially in a small, exclusive way.

   a snug coterie of writers.

   Synonyms: cozy, intimate

7. enabling one to live in comfort.

   a snug fortune.

8. secret; concealed; well-hidden.

   a snug hideout.

verb (used without object)

snugged, snugging 

1. to lie closely or comfortably; nestle.

   Synonyms: snuggle, cuddle

verb (used with object)

snugged, snugging 

1. to make snug.

   Synonyms: tidy, arrange, settle

2. Nautical.,  to prepare for a storm by taking in sail, lashing deck gear, etc. (usually followed bydown ).

   Synonyms: secure

adverb

1. in a snug manner.

   The shirt fit snug around the neck.

noun

1. British.,  a small, secluded room in a tavern, as for private parties.

snug

/ snʌɡ /

adjective

1. comfortably warm and well-protected; cosy

   the children were snug in bed during the blizzard

2. small but comfortable

   a snug cottage

3. well-ordered; compact

   a snug boat

4. sheltered and secure

   a snug anchorage

5. fitting closely and comfortably

6. offering safe concealment

noun

1. (in Britain and Ireland) one of the bars in certain pubs, offering intimate seating for only a few persons

2. engineering a small peg under the head of a bolt engaging with a slot in the bolted component to prevent the bolt turning when the nut is tightened

verb

1. to make or become comfortable and warm

2. (tr) nautical to make (a vessel) ready for a storm by lashing down gear

Other Word Forms

• snugly adverb
• snugness noun
• unsnug adjective
• unsnugness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of snug¹

First recorded in 1575–85; perhaps from Old Norse snøggr “short-haired”; cognate with Swedish snygg “neat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of snug¹

C16 (in the sense: prepared for storms (used of a ship)): related to Old Icelandic snöggr short-haired, Swedish snygg tidy, Low German snögger smart

Example Sentences

Its opening poem, “Digging,” feels earthbound with its low-pitched vowels: “Between my finger and my thumb / The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.”

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Her dress was ill fitting, snug across the shoulders and loose around the middle.

Read more on Literature

The snug art hub is anything but boring — this month’s group exhibit features dinosaur art.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One of the city’s oldest izakaya, a snug Japanese bar serving food and drinks, only recently extended its opening hours past 8 p.m.

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Jaya laced the strap through the buckle and tightened it until the tool belt was snug and secure across her chest.

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Related Words

• comfortable 
• comfy 
• cushy 
• neat 
• tight