caress Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun 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. verb touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
    fondle.
    • He caressed her face
    • They fondled in the back seat of the taxi

WordNet

Ca*ress" noun
Etymology
F. caresse, It. carezza, LL. caritia dearness, fr. L. carus dear. See Charity.
Definitions
  1. An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness.
    Wooed her with his soft caresses. Langfellow.
    He exerted himself to win by indulgence and caresses the hearts of all who were under his command. Macaulay.
Ca*ress" transitive verb
Etymology
F. caresser, fr. It. carezzare, fr. carezza caress. See Caress., n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Caressed ; present participle & verbal noun Caressing
Definitions
  1. To treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness; to touch or speak to in a loving or endearing manner; to fondle.
    The lady caresses the rough bloodhoun. Sir W. Scott.
    Syn. -- To foundle; embrace; pet; coddle; court; flatter. -- Caress, Fondle. "We caress by words or actions; we fondle by actions only." Crabb.

Webster 1913