huddle Hear it!

huddle Definition

hud·dle (hud′'l)

intransitive verb -·dled, -·dling

  1. to crowd, push, or nestle close together, as cows do in a storm
  2. to draw the limbs close to the body, as from cold to huddle under a blanket
  3. ☆ Informal to hold a private, informal conference
  4. ☆ Football to gather in a huddle

Etymology: orig. (16th c.), to put out of sight < ? or akin to ME hudel, var. of hidel, a hiding place < OE hydel < hydan, hide

transitive verb

  1. to crowd close together
  2. to hunch or draw (oneself) up
  3. to do, put, or make hastily and carelessly
  4. to push or thrust in a hurried or disordered manner

noun

  1. a confused crowd or heap of persons or things
  2. confusion; muddle; jumble
  3. ☆ Informal a private, informal conference
  4. ☆ Football a grouping of a team behind the line of scrimmage to receive signals before a play

huddle Synonyms

huddle

n.

group, assemblage, cluster; see bunch 1, crowd 1, gathering.

huddle Synonyms

huddle

v.

crouch, press close, crowd, bunch, draw together, mass, cluster, throng, nestle, cuddle, hug, curl up, snuggle; see also gather 1, press 1.

huddle Usage Examples

Object

  • yearning: Send me your poor, huddled masses yearning to pay me rent.
  • mass: Leaving him where he lay, a huddled mass, I turned to " Jacob's Ladder.
  • round: I ended up warming myself by the fire, the same one the guards were huddled round.

Preposition: on

  • floor: Several ' disciples ' were gathered huddled on the floor.

Preposition: against

  • wall: Chorus Aren't those your loved ones - huddled against the wall?

Preposition: around

  • fire: It was raining and there was heavy mist around, so we couldn't shoot, so we were all huddled around a fire.

Adjective modifier

  • holy: You must join us in our holy huddle in the center of the bed, otherwise you are not safe.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: Except in winter, when they all huddle around at the station to share warmth.
  • up: The cover features the 5 friends huddled up in a suitably period 1930s or 1940s saloon - perhaps an Austin or Wolseley?

Modifying Another Word

  • together: They sat huddled together in the dark cave, waiting for the soldiers to pass.
  • all: Instead they all huddled together under the kitchen table.
  • close: Elizabeth awoke and huddled close to John for comfort.

Noun used with modifier

  • pre-match: Both sides had a pre-match huddle or was it just their way of getting warm?

Followed by a transitive particle

  • around: Some glared at me while they huddled around bins, fighting for cigarette butts.

Infinitive complement

  • keep: Running down a cold length of pavement, various women were huddled together to keep warm.

Preposition: in

  • doorway: It was bitter cold outside, and as he passed an empty building he saw two street children huddled together in a doorway.
  • corner: The creature was huddled in a corner of the cave, watching him.
  • shelter: Below: Huddling in the small shelter waiting for the steam train.
  • room: The three of us spent a lot of time huddled together in little rooms with the machines.

Preposition: for

  • warmth: We settled down for the night huddled together for warmth on the dunes.