nuzzle - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

nuz·zle

Audio Help [nuhz-uh

l] Pronunciation Key verb, -zled, -zling, noun

–verb (used without object)

1.	to burrow or root with the nose, snout, etc., as an animal does: a rabbit nuzzling into the snow.

2.	to thrust the nose, muzzle, etc.: The dog nuzzled up to his master.

3.	to lie very close to someone or something; cuddle or snuggle up.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to root up with the nose, snout, etc.: training pigs to nuzzle truffles from the ground.

5.	to touch or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc.

6.	to thrust the nose, muzzle, snout, etc., against or into: The horse was nuzzling my pocket for sugar.

7.	to thrust (the nose or head), as into something.

8.	to lie very close to; cuddle or snuggle up to.

–noun

9.	an affectionate embrace or cuddle.

[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME noselen to grovel; orig. uncert.

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

nuz·zle Audio Help   (nŭz'əl) Pronunciation Key
v.   nuz·zled, nuz·zling, nuz·zles

v.   tr.

To rub or push against gently with or as if with the nose or snout: stroked and nuzzled the kitten.
To root or move with the snout.

v. intr.

To make rubbing or pressing motions with or as if with the nose or snout.
To nestle together.

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

nuz'zler n.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
nuzzle

c.1425, noselyng "on the nose, prostrate," freq. of nose (v.); meaning "burrow with the nose" is first attested 1530; that of "lie snug" is from 1597, influenced by nestle, or by nursle, freq. of nurse.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

nuzzle
verb
1.	move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position; "We cuddled against each other to keep warm"; "The children snuggled into their sleeping bags" [syn: cuddle]
2.	rub noses
3.	dig out with the snout; "the pig nuzzled the truffle"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
nuzzle [ˈnazl] verb

to press, rub or caress with the nose
Example: The horse nuzzled (against) her cheek.

Arabic:	يَدُسُّ أنفَهُ مُداعِبا
Chinese (Simplified):	用鼻子摩擦，用鼻爱抚
Chinese (Traditional):	用鼻子摩擦，用鼻愛撫
Czech:	tisknout se čumákem, čenichat
Danish:	gnubbe med næsen
Dutch:	met de neus duwen tegen
Estonian:	ninaga hõõruma
Finnish:	koskea turvalla
French:	faire des caresses à qqn
German:	die Schnauze, Nase, etc. reiben (an)
Greek:	σπρώχνω, τρίβω ή χαϊδεύω κτ. με τη μύτη
Hungarian:	orrával érint
Icelandic:	nugga nefinu utan í e-ð, snugga
Indonesian:	dengan hidung
Italian:	(strofinare il muso contro)

Japanese:	鼻でこする
Korean:	…에 코를 비벼대다
Latvian:	bikstīt, *pieglausties ar purnu
Lithuanian:	kepštelėti nosimi
Norwegian:	gni mulen, *nesen mot
Polish:	trącać nosem
Portuguese (Brazil):	focinhar
Portuguese (Portugal):	acariciar
Romanian:	a-şi freca nasul, *botul de
Russian:	тыкаться носом; тереться мордой
Slovak:	obtierať sa
Slovenian:	pritisniti se h komu
Spanish:	acariciar
Swedish:	trycka (gnida) nosen (mulen) mot
Turkish:	burnunu sürtmek, burnu ile dokunmak

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

nuzzle

Nour"sle\, v. t. [Freq., fr. OE. nourse. See Nurse.] To nurse; to rear; to bring up. [Obs.] [Written also nosel, nousel, nousle, nowsle, nusle, nuzzle, etc.]

She noursled him till years he raught. --Spenser.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Nuzzle

Nus"tle\, v. t. [Cf. Nuzzle.] To fondle; to cherish. [Obs.]

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