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

I stared at Noah’s bobbing Adam’s apple as he suckled at his bottle.

From Los Angeles Times

The other two are named Romulus and Remus, after the mythical founders of Rome said to have been suckled by a she-wolf as infants.

From Los Angeles Times

Mazakpwe cited a range of lactation issues mothers can face, from sore nipples to babies born too sick or too weak to suckle and stimulate milk production.

From Seattle Times

“There is no food or water. Sometimes I have nothing to give the kids,” she said as her 14-month-old suckled on her deflated breast.

From Seattle Times

I watched as a ewe suckled two lambs that she had adopted in this way.

From BBC