Etymology : perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hugga to soothe
Pronunciation : h&g
Function : transitive verb
Date : 1567
1. embrace, clasping of the arms around a person or thing. embrace, hold tightly, wrap the arms tightly around (a person or thing); cling to, cherish (an opinion, belief, etc.). hug\hug\ , v. i. [imp. & p. p. hugged ; p. pr. & vb. n. hugging.] [prob. of scand. origin; cf. dan. sidde paa huk to squat, sw. huka sig to squat, icel. h ka. cf. huckster.].
2. to cower; to crouch; to curl up. [obs.] --palsgrave.
3. to crowd together; to cuddle. [obs.]hug \hug\, v. t.
4. to press closely within the arms; to clasp to the bosom; to embrace. "and huggen me in his arms.".
5. to hold fast; to cling to; to cherish. we hug deformities if they bear our names.
6. (naut.) to keep close to; as, to hug the land; to hug the wind.
7. To cower; to crouch; to curl up.
8. To crowd together; to cuddle.
9. To press closely within the arms; to clasp to the bosom; to embrace.
10. To hold fast; to cling to; to cherish.
11. To keep close to; as, to hug the land; to hug the wind.
12. A close embrace or clasping with the arms, as in affection or in wrestling. a tight or amorous embrace; "come here and give me a big hug" fit closely or tightly; "She dress hugged her hipds".
13. 1. When you hug someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, for example because you like them or are pleased to see:
them. You can also say that two people hug each other or that they hug. She had hugged him exuberantly and invited him to dinner the next day We hugged and kissed. = embrace Hug is also a noun. Syvil leapt out of the back seat, and gave him a hug.
14. If you hug something, you hold it close to your body with your arms tightly round it. Shaerl trudged toward them, hugging a large box She hugged her legs tight to her chest.
15. Something that hugs the ground or a stretch of land or water stays very close to it. The road hugs the coast for hundreds of miles see also:
bear hug. the action of putting your arms around someone and holding them tightly to show love or friendship.