suckling

UK: /ˈsʌklɪŋ/ US: /ˈsʌklɪŋ/ ,(suk′ling)

From the verb suckle: (⇒ conjugate)

suckling is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

suck•ling /ˈsʌklɪŋ/   n. [countable]

1. Developmental Biology an infant or young animal not yet weaned.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

suck•ling  (suk′ling), n. 

1. Developmental Biology an infant or a young animal that is not yet weaned.

• 1400–50; late Middle English; see suck, -ling¹

Suck•ling  (suk′ling), n. 

1. Biographical Sir John, 1609–42, English poet.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

suckling / ˈsʌklɪŋ/ noun

1. an infant or young animal that is still taking milk from the mother
2. a very young child

Etymology: 15th Century: see suck, -ling¹; related to Middle Dutch sūgeling, Middle High German sōgelinc

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

suck•le /ˈsʌkəl/   v., -led, -ling. 

1. Animal Behavior to (cause to or provide the means to) nurse at the breast or udder: [no object]
   The newborn colt suckled at its mother's udder.
   [~ + object]
   to suckle a baby.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

suck•le  (suk′əl), v., -led, -ling. 
v.t. 

1. Animal Behavior to nurse at the breast or udder.
2. to nourish or bring up.
3. Animal Behavior to put to suck.

v.i. 

4. Animal Behavior to suck at the breast or udder.

• 1375–1425; late Middle English sucklen; see suck, -le

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Suckling / ˈsʌklɪŋ/ noun

1. Sir John. 1609–42, English Cavalier poet and dramatist

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

suckle / ˈsʌk^əl/ verb

1. to give (a baby or young animal) milk from the breast or (of a baby, etc) to suck milk from the breast
2. (transitive) to bring up; nurture

Etymology: 15th Century: probably back formation from suckling

ˈsuckler noun