caress

Meaning

Noun

1. An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness.
2. A gentle stroking or rubbing.

Verb

1. To touch or kiss lovingly; to fondle.
2. To affect as if with a caress.

Synonyms

fondle

stroke

pet

cuddle

embrace

hug

petting

chuck

dandle

touch

fondling

kiss

😗

love

❤️

affection

rub

cherish

endearment

blandish

massage

💆

enfold

pat

feel

tenderness

press

fondness

snog

tickle

titillate

vellicate

rub down

blandishment

love passionately

neck

side by side

cosset

love tenderly

soothe

have compassion

loving dearly

brush gently

hold in one’s arms

very pleasant

accompany together

lean close to

roll and rotate with the hand

touch fondly

encourge

gain favour of

touch affectionately

admire

nurse child

anoint

apply

bring up

cajolery

caressing

clasp

close together

coddle

comfort

conciliate

console

cuddling

delicacy

encircle

entertain

feel up

grope

groping

iron

like

making out

maul

molest

mollycoddle

nestle

nuzzle

pity

respect

smooth

snuggle

spoil

tweedle

be attached to

bill and coo

canoodle

fuss over

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kəˈɹɛs/

Etymology

Cognate with Sanskrit: काम

In summary

From French caresse, from Italian carezza (“dear”), from Latin cārus (“dear”), from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂-, akin to Sanskrit काम (kāma, “love”). Doublet of karezza.