What does caress mean?

Definitions for caress
kəˈrɛsca·ress

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word caress.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. caressverb

    a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)

    "he showered her with caresses"; "soft music was a fond caress"; "the caresses of the breeze played over his face"

  2. caress, fondleverb

    touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner

    "He caressed her face"; "They fondled in the back seat of the taxi"

Wiktionary

  1. caressnoun

    An act or expression of affection; Endearment.

  2. caressnoun

    A gentle stroking or rubbing.

  3. caressverb

    To touch or kiss lovingly; to fondle.

    She loves being caressed by her boyfriend.

  4. caressverb

    To show and act on deep closeness shared with another person.

  5. caressverb

    To affect as if with a caress.

  6. Etymology: From caresse, from carezza, from carus, from kāro- (English whore), akin to काम.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Caressnoun

    An act of endearment; an expression of tenderness.

    Etymology: from the verb.

    He, she knew, would intermix
    Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute
    With conjugal caresses. Paradise Lost, b. viii. l. 54.

    There are some men who seem to have brutal minds wrapt up in human shapes; their very caresses are crude and importune. Roger L'Estrange.

    After his successour had publickly owned himself a Roman catholick, he began with his first caresses to the church party. Jonathan Swift.

  2. To CARESSverb

    To endear; to fondle; to treat with kindness.

    Etymology: caresser, Fr. from carus, Lat.

    If I can feast, and please, and caress my mind with the pleasures of worthy speculations, or virtuous practices, let greatness and malice vex and abridge me, if they can. South.

Wikipedia

  1. caress

    Physical intimacy is sensual proximity or touching. It is an act or reaction, such as an expression of feelings (including close friendship, platonic love, romantic love or sexual attraction), between people. Examples of physical intimacy include being inside someone's personal space, holding hands, hugging, kissing, caressing and sexual activity. Physical intimacy can often convey the real meaning or intention of an interaction in a way that accompanying speech cannot do. Physical intimacy can be exchanged between any people but as it is often used to communicate positive and intimate feelings, it most often occurs in people who have a preexisting relationship, whether familial, platonic or romantic, with romantic relationships having increased physical intimacy. Several forms of romantic touch have been noted including holding hands, hugging, kissing, cuddling, as well as caressing and massaging. Physical affection is highly correlated with overall relationship and partner satisfaction.It is possible to be physically intimate with someone without actually touching them; however, a certain proximity is necessary. For instance, a sustained eye contact is considered a form of physical intimacy, analogous to touching. When a person enters someone else's personal space for the purpose of being intimate, it is physical intimacy, regardless of the lack of actual physical contact. Most people partake in physical intimacy, which is a natural part of interpersonal relationships and human sexuality, and research has shown it has health benefits. A hug or touch can result in the release of the hormone oxytocin and in a reduction in stress hormones.Due to the important role that language-based communication plays in humans, the role of touch is often downplayed; however, there is ample evidence that physical touch still plays an important role in everyday human relationships. While humans often communicate verbally, they also participate in close contact. Physical touch has emotional and social connotations that often far outweigh anything that can be expressed via language.Inducements towards physical intimacy can come from various sources. During colder seasons, humans as well as other animals seek physical intimacy with one another as a means to apportion thermoregulation. Some forms of physical touch among monkeys and apes serve multiple functions, including cleaning, treatment of a lice influx or infection and social grooming.Some forms of physical intimacy may be received negatively. This attitude is especially marked amongst those with haphephobia. One study has shown that there is generally a higher level of physical intimacy allowed between immediate family members than between second-degree relatives. Intimacy norms are usually more negative near erogenous zones. Some jurisdictions may specify this as referring to the genitals, buttocks and female breasts.

ChatGPT

  1. caress

    A caress is a gentle and affectionate touch or stroke, typically given with tenderness and warmth, often expressing love, care, or admiration. It is a soft and delicate gesture that is meant to soothe and comfort, evoking feelings of tenderness and closeness between individuals. Caresses can be given to humans, animals, or objects, and they are often used to convey affection, support, and emotional connection.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Caressnoun

    an act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness

  2. Caressnoun

    to treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness; to touch or speak to in a loving or endearing manner; to fondle

  3. Etymology: [F. caresse, It. carezza, LL. caritia dearness, fr. L. carus dear. See Charity.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Caress

    ka-res′, v.t. to treat with affection: to fondle: to embrace.—n. any act or expression of affection. [Fr. caresser—It. carezza, an endearment; Low L. caritia—L. carus, dear.]

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. CARESS

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Caress is ranked #68345 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Caress surname appeared 288 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Caress.

    88.8% or 256 total occurrences were White.
    4.5% or 13 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    2.7% or 8 total occurrences were Asian.
    1.7% or 5 total occurrences were of two or more races.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for caress »

  1. crases

  2. sacres

  3. scares

  4. seracs

How to pronounce caress?

How to say caress in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of caress in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of caress in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of caress in a Sentence

  1. Alice Walker:

    Expect nothing. Live frugally On surprise. become a stranger To need of pity Or, if compassion be freely Given out Take only enough Stop short of urge to plead Then purge away the need. Wish for nothing larger Than your own small heart Or greater than a star; Tame wild disappointment With caress unmoved and cold Make of it a parka For your soul. Discover the reason why So tiny human midget Exists at all So scared unwise But expect nothing. Live frugally On surprise.

  2. Behnaz Farahi:

    Caress of the Gaze refers to the 'haptic' quality of our gaze. It's taking something from invisible to visible, the idea for this project was really to create a garment that becomes an extension of our actual skin.

  3. Jimmy Dickens:

    May the bird of paradise fly up your nose; May an elephant caress you with its toes; May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose; May the bird of paradise fly up your nose.

  4. Stuti Garg:

    Sometimes we want to get away from the busy and hectic city life to find solace in the raging waves of the ocean pounding on the rocks or the turbulent splashing of a bubbling waterfall. At other times we are amazed by the immovable silence of a mountain or the gentle caress of a river overjoyed tat its union with the sea. The topography of a region speaks to each one of us--a secret language that people from all facets of life understand and relate to.

  5. Laurence Hope:

    For this is Wisdom to love, to live To take what fate, or the Gods may give. To ask no question, to make no prayer, To kiss the lips and caress the hair, Speed passion's ebb as you greet its flow To have, - to hold - and - in time, - let go

Popularity rank by frequency of use

caress#10000#35865#100000

Translations for caress

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"caress." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 Oct. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/caress>.

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