suckle

American  

[suhk-uhl] / ˈsʌk əl /

verb (used with object)

suckled, suckling

1. to nurse at the breast or udder.

2. to nourish or bring up.

3. to put to suck.

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verb (used without object)

suckled, suckling

1. to suck at the breast or udder.

suckle British  

/ ˈsʌkəl /

verb

1. to give (a baby or young animal) milk from the breast or (of a baby, etc) to suck milk from the breast

2. (tr) to bring up; nurture

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Other Word Forms

• suckler noun
• unsuckled adjective

Etymology

Origin of suckle

1375–1425; late Middle English sucklen; suck, -le

Example Sentences

When he was first taken from Menari, Roux — who wasn’t yet named — couldn’t even suckle, said Forbes.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2022

Meanwhile, Love Shaiska was struggling to suckle, forcing her parents to pull together cash to buy formula.

From Reuters • Aug. 23, 2021

There was no guarantee that the other mothers would protect Lucy, much less allow her to suckle, as that would mean fewer precious nutrients for their own calves.

From Scientific American • Jul. 20, 2021

Veterinarians listened to the cub’s heart and lungs, tested its suckle reflex and moved all four limbs to test muscular development.

From Washington Times • Sep. 22, 2020

Human wet nurses to suckle sickly faerie infants.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black