nuzzle

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These kind-hearted people - dog, cat, and even ferret lovers all - just aren't complete without a wet nose to nuzzle or a soft patch of fur waiting to be tussled by their outstretched hands.

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Definitions (19)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. transitive verb To rub or push against gently with or as if with the nose or snout: stroked and nuzzled the kitten.
  2. transitive verb To root or move with the snout.
  3. intransitive verb To make rubbing or pressing motions with or as if with the nose or snout.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (10)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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This word has been looked up 193 times.

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

towelette ·  scirocco ·  jrock ·  a-wing ·  hand-holding ·  commingle ·  fach ·  spunky ·  roleplaying ·  blesse ·  braine ·  quim

Used in the same contextWord Family

nuzzle:   nuzzled
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English noselen, to bend down, perhaps back-formation from noselyng, on the face, prostrate, from nose, nose; see nose.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Formerly also nuzzel, nuzle, nusle, nustle, nousle, noózle, nozzle, nozzel, and erroneously nursle, noursle (simulating nurse); from Middle English noselen, noslen, nuslen, nouslen, thrust the nose in, also fondle closely, cherish, etc., freq., from nose, nose. Cf. nozzle, nozle, n. The word seems to have been confused with nurse (whence nursle, noursle) and with nestle; these are, however, unrelated.
 

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/ˈnəzl/
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