an infant or young animal that is still taking milk from the mother
a very young child
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at suck, -ling 1
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But a pregnant or suckling female is especially ravenous and will continue to forage for two for up to 1 year after giving birth.
From Science Magazine • May 15, 2024
Specifically, the researchers from the University of California San Diego measured if babies are generating enough suckling strength to breastfeed and whether they are suckling in a regular pattern based on eight independent parameters.
From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2024
In 2015, a research team from two U.S. universities tested tunes incorporating feline-centric sounds that included purring and a pulse reminiscent of suckling.
From National Geographic • Jan. 2, 2024
Run by JM Nixon and Son, the farm had 140 suckling beef cattle as well as several holiday cottages and a riding school.
From BBC • Dec. 15, 2023
After the meal—cold fish with avocado sauce, roast suckling pig in brandy, and chocolate mousse—they dismissed the waiters and bolted the doors to the dining room.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
