| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | embrace, hug |
| Synonyms: | bear hug, cinch, clasp, clinch, clutch, cover, drape, encase, enclose, encompass, enshroud, envelop, envelope, enwrap, fold, girdle, grab, hold, invest, press, shroud, squeeze, surround, swathe, veil, wrap, wrap up |
| Antonyms: | let go |
| Main Entry: | clinch |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold securely; grab |
| Synonyms: | bolt, clamp, clasp, clench, clutch, cuddle, embrace, enfold, fasten, fix, grab hold of, grapple, grasp, grip, hug, lay hands on, make fast, nail, press, rivet, secure, seize, snatch, squeeze |
| Notes: | clench means to hold in a tight grasp while clinch means to settle conclusively - for example, hold a boxing opponent with one or both arms so as to prevent punches |
| Antonyms: | let go |
| Main Entry: | co-opt |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | to assimilate in order to take over or appropriate |
| Synonyms: | absorb, accept, admit, adopt, bring in, bring into line, bring into the fold, connaturalize, convert, draw in, elect, embrace, encompass, enfold, homogenize, homologize, include, incorporate, make one's own, take in, take over |
| Main Entry: | cover |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | wrap, hide |
| Synonyms: | blanket, board up, bury, bush up, cache, camouflage, canopy, cap, carpet, cloak, clothe, coat, conceal, cover up, crown, curtain, daub, disguise, do on the sly, dress, eclipse, encase, enclose, enfold, ensconce, enshroud, envelop, hood, house, invest, layer, mantle, mask, obscure, overcast, overlay, overspread, protect, put on, screen, secrete, set on, shade, shield, shroud, stash, superimpose, superpose, surface, veil |
| Antonyms: | lay bare, lay out, reveal, uncover, unwrap |
| Main Entry: | crush |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | compress, smash |
| Synonyms: | beat, bray, break, bruise, buck, comminute, contriturate, contuse, crease, crowd, crumble, crunch, embrace, enfold, express, hug, jam, kablooey, mash, pound, powder, press, pulverize, push, romp, rumple, squash, squeeze, squish, total*, trample, tread, triturate, wrinkle |
| Antonyms: | let go, release, uncompress, unwrinkle |
| Main Entry: | cuddle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold fondly, closely |
| Synonyms: | bundle, burrow, caress, clasp, cosset, curl up, dandle, embrace, enfold, feel up, fondle, huddle, hug, kiss, love, nestle, nuzzle, pet, snug, snuggle, touch |
| Antonyms: | push away |
| Main Entry: | embrace |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold tightly in one's arms |
| Synonyms: | bear hug, clasp, clinch, cling, clutch, cradle, cuddle, encircle, enfold, entwine, envelop, fold, fondle, grab, grasp, grip, hug, lock, nuzzle, press, seize, snuggle, squeeze, take in arms, wrap |
| Antonyms: | let go, release |
| Main Entry: | encircle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | circumscribe |
| Synonyms: | band, begird, cincture, circle, circuit, compass, cover, enclose, encompass, enfold, enring, envelop, environ, gird in, girdle, halo, hem in, inclose, invest, ring, surround, wreathe |
| Antonyms: | let go, unloose |
| Main Entry: | enclose |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | put inside, surround |
| Synonyms: | block off, blockade, bound, box up, cage, circle, circumscribe, close in, confine, coop, corral, cover, encase, encircle, encompass, enfold, enshroud, environ, fence, fence off, hedge, hem in, imbue, immure, implant, impound, imprison, include, induct, insert, intern, jail, limit, lock in, lock up, mew, mure, pen, restrict, set apart, shut in, veil, wall in, wrap |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, release, unloose |