nuzzle

UK: /ˈnʌz^əl/ US: /ˈnʌzəl/ ,(nuz′əl)

Inflections of 'nuzzle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

nuzzles

v 3rd person singular

nuzzling

v pres p

nuzzled

v past

nuzzled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nuz•zle /ˈnʌzəl/   v., -zled, -zling, n. 
v. 

1. to touch or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc.:
   [~ + object] The deer nuzzled her neck.
2. to lie very close (to);
   cuddle or snuggle up (to): [no object]
   They nuzzled under the covers.
   [~ + object]
   He nuzzled her under the covers.

n. [countable]

3. an affectionate embrace or cuddle.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nuz•zle  (nuz′əl), v., -zled, -zling, n. 
v.i. 

1. Animal Behavior to burrow or root with the nose, snout, etc., as an animal does:
   a rabbit nuzzling into the snow.
2. to thrust the nose, muzzle, etc.:
   The dog nuzzled up to his master.
3. to lie very close to someone or something;
   cuddle or snuggle up.

v.t. 

4. Animal Behavior to root up with the nose, snout, etc.:
   training pigs to nuzzle truffles from the ground.
5. to touch or rub with the nose, snout, muzzle, etc.
6. to thrust the nose, muzzle, snout, etc., against or into:
   The horse was nuzzling my pocket for sugar.
7. to thrust (the nose or head), as into something.
8. to lie very close to;
   cuddle or snuggle up to.

n. 

9. an affectionate embrace or cuddle.

• 1375–1425; late Middle English noselen to grovel; origin, originally uncertain

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nuzzle / ˈnʌz^əl/ verb

1. to push or rub gently against the nose or snout
2. (intransitive) to nestle; lie close
3. (transitive) to dig out with the snout

Etymology: 15th Century: nosele, from nose (n)