caress

[ kuh-res ]

noun

1. an act or gesture expressing affection, as an embrace or kiss, especially a light stroking or touching.

   Synonyms: hug, pat

2. a light and gentle touch or stroke, or something that passes lightly over a person or thing:

   Let the gentle caresses of the music carry your worries away.

verb (used with object)

1. to touch, pat, or stroke gently to show affection.
2. to touch or seem to touch lightly:

   The breeze caressed the trees.

3. to treat with favor, kindness, etc.

caress

/ kəˈrɛs /

noun

1. a gentle touch or embrace, esp one given to show affection

verb

1. tr to touch or stroke gently with affection or as with affection

   the wind caressed her face

Derived Forms

• caˈressingly, adverb
• caˈresser, noun

Other Words From

• ca·ress·a·ble adjective
• ca·ress·er noun
• un·ca·ressed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of caress¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from French caresse, from Italian carezza, from unattested Vulgar Latin caritia, equivalent to Latin cār(us) “dear” + -itia suffix of abstract nouns; charity

Word History and Origins

Origin of caress¹

C17: from French caresse, from Italian carezza, from Latin cārus dear

Example Sentences

Touch provides an overwhelming amount of feedback to the body, as my extremities stretch through the water, as the temperature, current, and any life within caresses, pushes, and pulls.

From Outside Online

There is not a moment in the day that goes by when I don’t think about you or remember those caresses that are no longer mine.

From Washington Blade

While he does, my eyes caress the strange pop culture tapestry on display.

From The Daily Beast

“His language in the hearing” to describe the choking “was that it was a ‘gentle caress,’” Sclove remembered.

From The Daily Beast

Kopin said the interchange was nothing more than a “gentle caress.”

From The Daily Beast

But they looked really into each other—they held hands and kissed, and I saw Chris caress her cheek.

From The Daily Beast

Free traders get up and fetch the bottle of scotch so that they can at least caress the neck.

From The Daily Beast

The action was at first a little confusing to Edna, but she soon lent herself readily to the Creole's gentle caress.

From Project Gutenberg

Each word was a caress, each syllable alive with interest, sympathy, excited anticipation.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not caress it; she once heard him sighing over it; and he never announced it in the newspapers.

From Project Gutenberg

He kissed her with a degree of passion which had not before entered into his caress, and strained her to him.

From Project Gutenberg

And yet he heard songs that sounded like a caress and his whole being was permeated by a sense of delicious freshness.

From Project Gutenberg