fondle C2+ Topic:Senses & Perception US /ˈfɑndəl/ UK /ˈfɒndəl/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to touch or stroke gently and affectionately She fondled the kitten's soft ears as it purred. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to touch or stroke gently... caressstrokepetcuddlenuzzlepat Word family Derived forms fondlerfondling Related forms fondfondness Etymology AI details A frequentative formed from fond ('foolishly tender, doting', originally past participle of obsolete fonnen 'to be foolish') + the suffix -le. Topics Senses & Perception External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # fondle **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˈfɑndəl/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈfɒndəl/ ## Meanings 1. to touch or stroke gently and affectionately ## Examples - She fondled the kitten's soft ears as it purred. ## Synonyms - caress - stroke - pet - cuddle - nuzzle - pat ## Derived Forms - fondler - fondling ## Related Forms - fond - fondness ## Etymology A frequentative formed from fond ('foolishly tender, doting', originally past participle of obsolete fonnen 'to be foolish') + the suffix -le. ## AI Etymology Fondle is a frequentative formed from fond ('foolishly tender, doting', originally past participle of obsolete fonnen 'to be foolish') + the suffix -le. In present-day use, it means to touch or stroke gently and affectionately. Derived formations include fondler and fondling. Related vocabulary includes fond and fondness. ## Topics - Senses & Perception markdown