hug

hug¹ [hʌg] v past tense and past participle hugged present participle hugging [T]

[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language]

1.) to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly to show love or friendship

= ↑embrace

▪ We stood there crying and hugging each other.

▪ She went to her daughter and hugged her tightly .

2.) to put your arms around yourself

hug your knees/arms/legs etc

▪ Sarah sat on the floor, hugging her knees.

hug yourself

▪ She stood close to the wall, hugging herself against the cold.

3.) to move along the side, edge, top etc of something, staying very close to it

▪ The small boats hugged the coast.

4.) if clothes hug your body, they fit closely

→↑close-fitting

body-/figure-hugging

▪ a figure-hugging dress

5.) to hold something in your arms close to your chest

▪ He was hugging a big pile of books.

6.) hug yourself with joy/delight etc

BrE to feel very pleased with yourself

▪ Kate hugged herself with pleasure after receiving the award.

hug ²

hug² n

the action of putting your arms around someone and holding them tightly to show love or friendship

▪ Paul gave me a big hug .

▪ Nesta greeted the visitors with hugs and kisses.

→↑bear hug