acarinhar

Senses

1. 1.

   to caress, to stroke

   to touch or stroke gently with affection

2. 2.

   to cherish, to treasure

   to hold dear or nurture with care and affection

3. 3.

   to cuddle, to fondle

   to hold close tenderly or embrace lovingly

Examples

• "Ela acarinhou o rosto do filho com ternura."

  She caressed her son's face tenderly.

• "É importante acarinhar os sonhos desde cedo."

  It's important to cherish your dreams from an early age.

• "O casal acarinhava o bebê recém-nascido."

  The couple was cuddling the newborn baby.

Usage

A tender, affectionate verb commonly used with children, pets, dreams, or cherished ideas. More formal/literary than "fazer carinho" but widely understood. Often paired with "com carinho/ternura" (with affection/tenderness).