Definitions for cuddleˈkʌd l

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

cud•dleˈkʌd l(v.; n.)-dled, -dling

(v.t.)to hold close in an affectionate manner; hug tenderly; fondle.
(v.i.)to lie close and snug; nestle.
(of two people) to hold each other close; hug.
(n.)an act of cuddling; hug; embrace.

Origin of cuddle:

1510–20; perh. back formation from ME cudliche intimate, affectionate, OE cūthlīc, or from ME cuthlechen, OE cūthlǣcan to make friends with; see uncouth , -ly

Princeton's WordNet

cuddle, nestle, snuggle(verb)
a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace
cuddle, snuggle, nestle, nest, nuzzle, draw close(verb)
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"
cuddle(verb)
hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth
"I cuddled the baby"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

cuddle(verb)ˈkʌd l
to hug lovingly
She cuddled a stuffed bear.; a couple cuddling on the couch

Wiktionary

cuddle(Noun)
A snuggle; an affectionate embrace, often used in conjunction with family members and close friends.
cuddle(Verb)
To embrace affectionately, lie together snugly.
The young lovers cuddled on the couch.
cuddle(Verb)
To cradle in one's arms so as to give comfort, warmth.

Origin: Origin uncertain, but probably from a frequentative form of *, cuththen, keththen, a variant of cuthen, kuthen, kithen, from cuth, couth, equivalent to . Cognate with kudden. More at couth.