Standard Lemma guide

fondle

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈfɒndəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɒndəl
  • CMU ARPABET: F AO1 N D AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A caress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I gave the sleeping dog's ears a fondle as I walked past.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To touch or stroke lovingly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Mothers fondle their babies.
  • idly fondling the cat's ears

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dandle, pet, touch up

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To grasp.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The lovers fondled each other.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clutch, grab, nim, beclasp, begrasp, begrip, belock, clasp, clench, clinch, cling, enclasp, fang, fondle, glaum, grabble, grasp, grip, hang on, hold on, hold tight, hold, nab, seize, stranglehold, take

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He caressed her face
  • They fondled in the back seat of the taxi

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: caress

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stroke

Narrower terms: paw, grope, dandle, pet, chuck, pat, nuzzle, nose, tickle

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English fond Proto-Germanic *-lōną Old English -lian Middle English -len English -le English fondle From fond (“love, admire”) + -le (frequentative suffix).

Across languages

Translations

47 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Albanian: ledhatoj — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Albanian: përkëdhel — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Arabic: لَاطَفَ (lāṭafa) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Arabic: رَبَتَ (rabata) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Bulgarian: милвам (milvam) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Bulgarian: галя (galja) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Catalan: acaronar — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Catalan: acariciar — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 愛撫 /爱抚 (àifǔ) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Czech: laskat — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Dutch: liefkozen — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Esperanto: karesi — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Finnish: hyväillä — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Finnish: kosketella — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • French: caresser — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Galician: afagar — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Galician: acariñar — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Galician: aloumiñar — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Galician: acariciar — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • German: liebkosen — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • German: kosen — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Irish: muirnigh — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Italian: accarezzare — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Italian: avvinghiarsi — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Japanese: 愛撫する (aibu suru) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Japanese: 可愛がる (kawaigaru) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Korean: 어르다 (eoreuda) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Latin: subigitō — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Latin: contrectō — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Māori: mori — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Māori: takamori — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Māori: whakatākohekohe — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Portuguese: acariciar — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Romanian: dezmierda — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Romanian: mângâia — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Russian: ласка́ть (laskátʹ) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Russian: гла́дить (gláditʹ) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Russian: ти́скать (tískatʹ) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Slovene: crkljati — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Spanish: acariciar — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Spanish: franelear — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Spanish: cachondear — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Swedish: smeka — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Swedish: kela med — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Telugu: నిమురు (nimuru) — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Turkish: okşamak — to touch or stroke lovingly
  • Welsh: llochi — to touch or stroke lovingly