First Known Use: 1598
Dictionary
1caress
verb ca·ress \kə-ˈres\
: to touch (someone or something) in a gentle way
Full Definition of CARESS
transitive verb
1
: to treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness : cherish
2
a : to touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner b : to touch or affect as if with a caress <echoes that caress the ear>
— ca·ress·er noun
— ca·ress·ing·ly \kə-ˈre-siŋ-lē\ adverb
See caress defined for English-language learners
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Origin of CARESS
French caresser, from Italian carezzare, from carezza
Rhymes with CARESS
abscess, access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, recess, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, transgress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress
2caress
noun
: a gentle or loving touch
Full Definition of CARESS
1
: an act or expression of kindness or affection : endearment
2
a : a light stroking, rubbing, or patting b : kiss
— ca·res·sive \-ˈre-siv\ adjective
— ca·res·sive·ly adverb
See caress defined for English-language learners
See caress defined for kids
Origin of CARESS
French caresse, from Italian carezza, from caro dear, from Latin carus — more at charity
First Known Use: 1609
CARESS Defined for Kids
1caress
noun ca·ress \kə-ˈres\
Definition of CARESS for Kids
: a tender or loving touch or hug
2caress
verb
ca·ressedca·ress·ing
Definition of CARESS for Kids
: to touch in a tender or loving way
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