huddle

[ huhd-l ]
See synonyms for: huddlehuddled on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),hud·dled, hud·dling.
  1. to gather or crowd together in a close mass.

  2. to crouch, curl up, or draw oneself together.

  1. Football. to get together in a huddle.

  2. to confer or consult; meet to discuss, exchange ideas, or make a decision.

verb (used with object),hud·dled, hud·dling.
  1. to heap or crowd together closely.

  2. to draw (oneself) closely together, as in crouching; nestle (often followed by up).

  1. Chiefly British. to do hastily and carelessly (often followed by up, over, or together).

  2. to put on (clothes) with careless haste (often followed by on).

noun
  1. a closely gathered group, mass, or heap; bunch.

  2. Football. a gathering of the offensive team in a close circle or line behind the line of scrimmage for instructions, signals, etc., from the team captain or quarterback, usually held before each offensive play.

  1. a conference, or consultation, especially a private meeting to discuss serious matters: The labor representatives have been in a huddle for two hours.

  2. confusion or disorder.

Origin of huddle

1
1570–80; hud- (weak grade of root found in hide1) + -le; replacing Middle English hoder, equivalent to hod- (variant hud-) + -er-er6

Other words from huddle

  • huddler, noun
  • hud·dling·ly, adverb
  • un·hud·dle, verb (used with object), un·hud·dled, un·hud·dling.

Words Nearby huddle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use huddle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for huddle

huddle

/ (ˈhʌdəl) /


noun
  1. a heaped or crowded mass of people or things

  2. informal a private or impromptu conference (esp in the phrase go into a huddle)

verb
  1. to crowd or cause to crowd or nestle closely together

  2. (often foll by up) to draw or hunch (oneself), as through cold

  1. (intr) informal to meet and confer privately

  2. (tr) mainly British to do (something) in a careless way

  3. (tr) rare to put on (clothes) hurriedly

Origin of huddle

1
C16: of uncertain origin; compare Middle English hoderen to wrap up

Derived forms of huddle

  • huddler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with huddle

huddle

see go into a huddle.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.