From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcuddlecud‧dle1 /ˈkʌdl/ verb [intransitive, transitive] HOLDto hold someone or something very close to you with your arms around them, especially to show that you love them → hug Dawn and her boyfriend were cuddling on the sofa.► see thesaurus at hug → cuddle up→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
cuddle• The sensitive child may dislike being tickled or cuddled.• She had fallen asleep in her chair, cuddling a little teddy bear.• Jenny sat on the couch, cuddling a stuffed toy dog.• The couple cuddled and kissed all through dinner.• His sister Shantel cuddled close to him.• The young nurses were very kind and would kiss and cuddle her.• Stuart wriggled as she cuddled him.• He attacked the couple as they cuddled in their car at a remote beauty spot.• They were kissing and cuddling on the sofa.• I wouldn't really fancy that - it'd be no good to cuddle or nothing.• Working-class women cuddled their babies up in the warm as women had done for millions of years.• Relax by cuddling your knees, then repeat.cuddlecuddle2 noun [singular] HOLDan act of cuddling someone → hug Come over here and let me give you a cuddle.Examples from the Corpus
cuddle• Diana was treated with kid gloves when all she needed was some sensible advice, a cuddle and a consoling word.• To a child, Mrs Burrows, a slap is as good as a cuddle.• She was giving the baby a cuddle.• Father immediately suggested that Jenny go and sit on his lap and he gave her a big cuddle.• Or a cosy cuddle without all that ear-bashing.• I used to give him the odd cuddle and I used to give him lifts home on my bike.• And, above all, provide plenty of cuddles, consolation, and enthusiastic, encouragement for every achievement!give ... cuddle• She should have given Lily a cuddle.• Even though Marci gets to give him a cuddle from time to time and wash his favourite bright red undies.• She comes up to the house and starts bellowing, and just will not stop until you give her a cuddle!Origin cuddle1 (1500-1600) Perhaps from cull, coll “to hug” ((14-18 centuries)), from Old French coler, from col “neck” 