| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | touch lovingly |
| Synonyms: | bear hug, caress, clutch, cosset, cuddle, dandle, embrace, feel, fool around, grab, grope, hug, love, make love to, neck, nestle, nuzzle, pat, paw, pet, play footsie, snuggle, squeeze, stroke |
| Main Entry: | cherish |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | care about deeply |
| Synonyms: | admire, adore, appreciate, apprize, care for, clasp, cleave to, cling to, coddle, comfort, cosset, cultivate, defend, dote on, embrace, encourage, enshrine, entertain, fancy, fondle, foster, guard, harbor, hold dear, hold in high esteem, honor, hug, idolize, like, love, nourish, nurse, nurture, pet, preserve, prize, revere, reverence, safeguard, shelter, shield, support, sustain, treasure, value, venerate, worship |
| Notes: | cherish means to be fond of, be attached to, while nurture means to bring up, help develop, help grow, or provide with nourishment |
| Antonyms: | abandon, denounce, forsake, not care, renounce |
| 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: | dandle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | caress, cuddle |
| Synonyms: | amuse, cosset, cradle, dance, fondle, love, nuzzle, pet, play, ride on knee, rock, sport, toss, toy with, toy* |
| Main Entry: | drool |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | desire, lust after |
| Synonyms: | dote on, enthuse, fondle, gush, lick chops, make much of, pet, rave, rhapsodize, rhapsody, slobber over, spoil, want |
| 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: | feel |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | touch, stroke |
| Synonyms: | apperceive, caress, clasp, clutch, explore, finger, fondle, frisk, fumble, grapple, grasp, grip, grope, handle, manipulate, maul, palm, palpate, paw, perceive, pinch, ply, poke, press, run hands over, sense, squeeze, test, thumb, tickle, try, twiddle, wield |
| Main Entry: | handle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | touch |
| Synonyms: | check, examine, feel, finger*, fondle, grasp, hold, manipulate, maul, palpate, paw, pick up, poke, test, thumb, try |
| Main Entry: | hold |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | have in one's hands, possession; grasp |
| Synonyms: | adhere, arrest, bind, bottle up, carry, catch, check, cherish, clasp, cleave, clench, clinch, cling, clutch, confine, contain, cork up, cradle, detain, embrace, enclose, enjoy, fondle, freeze to, grip, handle, hang on, have, hug, imprison, keep, keep close, keep out, lock up, maintain, not let go, nourish, occupy, own, palm, possess, press, put a lock on, restrain, retain, secure, seize, squeeze, stay put, stick, take, trammel, vise, wield, withhold, wring |
| Antonyms: | drop, let go, release |