noun / verb
caress
kuh-RESS/kəˈres/
A gentle, affectionate touch.
The woman caresses her cat's cheek with gentle fingertips.
Etymology
The underlying idea is cherishing or treating someone as dear. A caress makes that affection physical: a gentle stroke or touch becomes a show of endearment.
In context
he began to caress her very affectionately he would not have stopped at that if St orosia had not inspired his good wife
More examples
- The baby settles beneath his mother's gentle caress.
- He caressed the dog's soft ears.
- A warm breeze seems to caress her face.
Forms
caress · caresses · caressed · caressing