different between snuggle vs embrace

English

Etymology

First attested in 1687. snug +? -le (frequentative suffix); spelt with doubled ‘g’ to clarify pronunciation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sn???l/
• Rhymes: -???l

Noun

snuggle (plural snuggles)

1. An affectionate hug.
2. The final remnant left in a liquor bottle.

Synonyms

• (hug): cuddle
• (final remnant in bottle): sip

Verb

snuggle (third-person singular simple present snuggles, present participle snuggling, simple past and past participle snuggled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To lie close to another person or thing, hugging or being cosy.

   Sometimes my girlfriend and I snuggle.

   The surrounding buildings snuggled each other.

   The last drop of jager snuggled the corner of the pint.

   • 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit:

     And when the Boy dropped off to sleep, the Rabbit would snuggle down close under his little warm chin and dream, with the Boy's hands clasped close round him all night long.

2. To move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cosy position.

   Tired but satisfied, the children snuggled into their sleeping bags.

   The pet dog snuggles into its new bed.

Synonyms

• cuddle

Translations

Derived terms

English

Etymology

The verb is derived from Middle English embracen (“to clasp in one's arms, embrace; to reach out eagerly for, welcome; to enfold, entwine; to ensnare, entangle; to twist, wrap around; to gird, put on; to lace; to be in or put into bonds; to put a shield on the arm; to grasp (a shield or spear); to acquire, take hold of; to receive; to undertake; to affect, influence; to incite; to unlawfully influence a jury; to surround; to conceal, cover; to shelter; to protect; to comfort; to comprehend, understand”) [and other forms], from Old French embracer, embracier (“to kiss”) (modern French embrasser (“to kiss; (dated) to embrace, hug”)), from Late Latin *imbracchi?re, from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’)) + bracchium (“arm”). The English word is analysable as em- +? brace.

The noun is derived from the verb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?b?e?s/, /?m?b?e?s/
• Rhymes: -e?s
• Hyphenation: em?brace

Verb

embrace (third-person singular simple present embraces, present participle embracing, simple past and past participle embraced)

1. (transitive) To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.

   Synonyms: fall on someone's neck; see also Thesaurus:embrace
2. (transitive, figuratively) To seize (something) eagerly or with alacrity; to accept or take up with cordiality; to welcome.
3. (transitive, figuratively) To submit to; to undergo.

   Synonym: accept
4. (transitive, also figuratively) To encircle; to enclose, to encompass.

   Synonyms: entwine, surround
5. (transitive, figuratively) To enfold, to include (ideas, principles, etc.); to encompass.
6. (transitive, obsolete, rare) To fasten on, as armour.
7. (transitive, figuratively, obsolete) To accept (someone) as a friend; to accept (someone's) help gladly.
8. (transitive, law, figuratively, obsolete) To attempt to influence (a court, jury, etc.) corruptly; to practise embracery.

Conjugation

Alternative forms

• imbrace (obsolete)

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

embrace (plural embraces)

1. An act of putting arms around someone and bringing the person close to the chest; a hug.
2. (figuratively) An enclosure partially or fully surrounding someone or something.
3. (figuratively) Full acceptance (of something).
4. (figuratively) An act of enfolding or including.

Derived terms

• deadly embrace
• half-embrace
• marital embrace

Translations

Notes

References

Further reading

• embrace (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Spanish

Verb

embrace

1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of embrazar.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of embrazar.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of embrazar.
4. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of embrazar.