hug

Meaning

Noun

1. A close embrace, especially when charged with an emotion such as affection, joy, relief, lust, anger, aggression, compassion, and the like, as opposed to being characterized by formality, equivocation or ambivalence (a half-embrace or "little hug").
2. A particular grip in wrestling.

Verb

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To crouch; to huddle as with cold.
2. (intransitive) To cling closely together.
3. (reciprocal, transitive) To embrace by holding closely, especially in the arms.
4. (transitive) To stay close to.
5. (figuratively, transitive) To hold fast; to cling to; to cherish.

Synonyms

embrace

cuddle

squeeze

clasp

caress

hold

enfold

fondle

hold in one’s arms

carry in arms

stroke

press

bosom

grasp

carry

clinch

cherish

chuck

embrance

encircle

hugging

pet

snuggle

wrestle

hold tight

bearhug

embrace tightly

girdle

crush

crowd

hold fast

hold up

huddle

hold with arms

nestle

nuzzle

hold tightly

possess

clog

press out

prise

push

ream

rule

seize

skirt

take in one’s bosom

cling to

squeeze out

strain

Translations

abbracciare

embrasser

abrazar

umarmen

étreinte

Umarmung

abbraccio

abrazo

abraçar

étreindre

serrer

omarmen

αγκαλιάζω

abraço

knuffelen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/hʌɡ/

Etymology

Cognate with Icelandic: hugga

Cognate with Old English: hyġe

In summary

From earlier hugge (“to embrace, clasp with the arms”) (1560), probably representing a conflation of huck (“to crouch, huddle down”) and Old Norse hugga (“to comfort, console”), from hugr (“mind, heart, thought”), from Proto-Germanic *hugiz (“mind, thought, sense”), cognate with Icelandic hugga (“to comfort”), Old English hyġe (“thought”) (whence high (Etymology 2)).