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huddle

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Huddle is defined as to crowd together, or to curl up closely.

(verb)

When football players gather around and put their heads together to whisper about their next play, this is an example of when they huddle.
When you are cold and you pull your knees up tight against your chest and wrap your arms around them, curling into a little ball, this is an example of when you huddle.

The definition of a huddle is a crowded mess of people or things, or is a group of people crowded together for a private conversation.

(noun)

A group of football players on the field with their heads bent close together so they can have a private talk about their next play is an example of a huddle.

See huddle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb huddled, huddling

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

Origin: 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

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

noun

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

See huddle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A densely packed group or crowd, as of people or animals.
Football A brief gathering of a team's players behind the line of scrimmage to receive instructions for the next play.
A small private conference or meeting.

verb hud·dled, hud·dling, hud·dles

verb, intransitive

To crowd together, as from cold or fear.
To draw or curl one's limbs close to one's body; crouch.
Football To gather in a huddle.
Informal To gather together for conference or consultation: During the crisis the President's national security advisers huddled.

verb, transitive