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August 05, 2019 Word of the Day

huddle /ˈhʌdl̟/ verb
huddle
/ˈhʌdl̟/
verb

huddles; huddled; huddling

Friends huddling around a campfire
Friends huddling around a campfire
Definition of HUDDLE

[no object]

1 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to come close together in a group

  • People were huddling (together) in doorways to get out of the rain.

  • We huddled around the campfire.

  • The sheep huddled together for warmth.

  • “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus” (1883)

2 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to sit or lie in a curled or bent position

  • The students huddled over their desks.

3 a : to come together to talk about something privately

  • Union representatives are huddling to discuss the proposal.

b American football : to gather in a huddle — often + up

  • The players huddled up.

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