fondle

verb

fon·​dle ˈfän-dᵊl 

fondled; fondling ˈfän-dᵊl-iŋ 

ˈfän-(d)liŋ

transitive verb

1

: to handle tenderly, lovingly, or lingeringly : caress

She fondled the string of pearls.

2

a

obsolete : pamper

b

: to touch (someone or something) sexually

… one of them fondled her neck.

—Nadine Gordimer

Not long ago, the New York Police Department investigated a dentist accused of fondling his patients after putting them under anesthesia.

—Donna McCrohan

intransitive verb

: to show affection or desire by caressing

fondler

ˈfän-dᵊl-ər 

ˈfän-(d)lər

noun

Synonyms

• caress
• gentle
• love
• pat
• pet
• stroke

Examples of fondle in a Sentence

a cat who enjoys being fondled by his loving owners

Word History

Etymology

frequentative of obsolete fond to fondle

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

fondle

verb

fon·​dle ˈfän-dᵊl 

fondled; fondling -(d)liŋ 

-dᵊl-iŋ

: to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner : caress, pet

fondler

-(d)lər 

-dᵊl-ər

noun