Caress definition | Dictionary.com

ca⋅ress

[kuh-res]

–noun

1.	an act or gesture expressing affection, as an embrace or kiss, esp. a light stroking or touching.

–verb (used with object)

2.	to touch or pat gently to show affection.

3.	to touch, stroke, etc., lightly, as if in affection: The breeze caressed the trees.

4.	to treat with favor, kindness, etc.

Origin:
1605–15; < F caresse < It carezza < VL *caritia, equiv. to L cār(us) dear + -itia suffix of abstract nouns; cf. charity

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Caress

Spanish:

acariciar,

German:

liebkosen,

Japanese:

愛撫する

View 30 other languages »

ca·ress   (kə-rěs') Pronunciation Key
n.   A gentle touch or gesture of fondness, tenderness, or love.

tr.v.   ca·ressed, ca·ress·ing, ca·ress·es

To touch or stroke in an affectionate or loving manner.
To touch or move as if with a caress: soft music that caressed the ears.
To treat fondly, kindly, or favorably; cherish.

[French caresse, from Italian carezza, from caro, dear, from Latin cārus; see kā- in Indo-European roots.]

ca·ress'er n., ca·ress'ing·ly adv., ca·res'sive adj.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to touch or handle affectionately: caressed the baby's forehead; cuddled the kitten in her arms; fondling the dog's ears; petting his pony.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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caress

1651, from Fr. caresser, from It. carezzare "endearment," ult. from L. carita, from carus "dear" (see whore).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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caress
noun
1.	a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it); "he showered her with caresses"; "soft music was a fond caress"; "the caresses of the breeze played over his face"
verb
1.	touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner; "He caressed her face"; "They fondled in the back seat of the taxi"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Caress

Ca*ress"\, n. [F. caresse, It. carezza, LL. caritia dearness, fr. L. carus dear. See Charity.] An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness.

Wooed her with his soft caresses. --Langfellow.

He exerted himself to win by indulgence and caresses the hearts of all who were under his command. --Macaulay.

Caress

Ca*ress"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Caressing.] [F. caresser, fr. It. carezzare, fr. carezza caress. See Caress., n.] To treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness; to touch or speak to in a loving or endearing manner; to fondle.

The lady caresses the rough bloodhoun. --Sir W. Scott.

Syn: To foundle; embrace; pet; coddle; court; flatter.

Usage: Caress, Fondle. "We caress by words or actions; we fondle by actions only." --Crabb.

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