noun
caress
kuh-REHS
noun
1
A gentle, affectionate touch.
"He felt the caress of her hand on his cheek."
"The breeze felt like a caress against her skin."
verb
1
To touch someone gently and affectionately.
"She caressed the baby's soft cheek."
"He gently caressed the cat's fur."
How to Use Caress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft, loving touch, or the act of touching someone that way.
Common pairings
a gentle caress
caress her hair
caress someone's face
Word Forms
caressed past tense, caresses plural, caresses singular
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He felt the _____ of her hand on his cheek.
Etymology
From French caresse, from Italian carezza ("endearment"), ultimately from Latin cārus ("dear, beloved").