caress

== English == === Etymology === From French caresse, from Italian carezza (“dear”), from Latin cārus (“dear”), from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂-, akin to Sanskrit काम (kāma, “love”). Doublet of karezza. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /kəˈɹɛs/ Rhymes: -ɛs === Noun === caress (plural caresses) An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness. [from 1640s] A gentle stroking or rubbing. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === caress (third-person singular simple present caresses, present participle caressing, simple past and past participle caressed) (transitive) To touch or kiss lovingly; to fondle. Synonyms: hold, soothe, stroke, kiss; see also Thesaurus:fondle, Thesaurus:kiss (transitive) To affect as if with a caress. ==== Translations ==== === Derived terms === === Anagrams === Crases, SERCAs, carses, casers, crases, sacres, scares, seracs, séracs