nuzzle
/ˈnʌz(ə)l
/verb [with object]
1Rub or push against gently with the nose and mouth: he nuzzled her hair [no object]: the foal nuzzled at its mother...
- Veil nodded understandingly and nuzzled her neck gently like his mother used to do to comfort him.
- She was leaning into his side, nose nuzzling his cocktail jacket.
- Firstly, I watched queen wasps and bees gently nuzzling bricks and mortar in the sunshine, looking for the weakness that provides a new home.
Synonyms
nudge, nose, prod, push
1.1 [no object] Snuggle up to: she nuzzled up against me...
- She gave his arm a squeeze and nuzzled up against him, yawning as she did so.
- The tiny buzz of a purr was coming from its throat as it nuzzled up against me.
- They were nuzzling and snuggling on the marital bed, half naked.
Synonyms
snuggle, cuddle (up), nestle, curl up, settle down, snug down, burrow, embrace, hug, lie close to
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'grovel'): frequentative from nose, reinforced by Dutch neuzelen 'poke with the nose'.