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suckling

[ suhk-ling ]
/ ˈsʌk lɪŋ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR suckling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an infant or a young animal that is not yet weaned.

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Origin of suckling

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at suck, -ling1

Words nearby suckling

sucking louse, sucking reflex, sucking wound, suckle, suckler, suckling, sucks, sucky, sucralfate, sucralose, sucrase

Definition for suckling (2 of 3)

Suckling
[ suhk-ling ]
/ ˈsʌk lɪŋ /

noun

Sir John,1609–42, English poet.

Definition for suckling (3 of 3)

suckle
[ suhk-uh l ]
/ ˈsʌk əl /

verb (used with object), suck·led, suck·ling.

to nurse at the breast or udder.
to nourish or bring up.
to put to suck.

verb (used without object), suck·led, suck·ling.

to suck at the breast or udder.

Origin of suckle

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

OTHER WORDS FROM suckle

un·suck·led, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to suckling

infant, babe

Example sentences from the Web for suckling

British Dictionary definitions for suckling (1 of 3)

suckling
/ (ˈsʌklɪŋ) /

noun

an infant or young animal that is still taking milk from the mother
a very young child

Word Origin for suckling

C15: see suck, -ling 1; related to Middle Dutch sūgeling, Middle High German sōgelinc

British Dictionary definitions for suckling (2 of 3)

Suckling
/ (ˈsʌklɪŋ) /

noun

Sir John. 1609–42, English Cavalier poet and dramatist

British Dictionary definitions for suckling (3 of 3)

suckle
/ (ˈsʌkəl) /

verb

to give (a baby or young animal) milk from the breast or (of a baby, etc) to suck milk from the breast
(tr) to bring up; nurture

Derived forms of suckle

suckler, noun

Word Origin for suckle

C15: probably back formation from suckling
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