Kiss vs. Hug — What's the Difference?

A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely.

A hug is a form of endearment, universal in human communities, in which two or more people put their arms around the neck, back, or waist of one another and hold each other closely. If more than two people are involved, it may be referred to as a group hug.

Touch or caress with the lips as a sign of love, sexual desire, or greeting

Squeeze (someone) tightly in one's arms, typically to express affection

(of a ball) lightly touch (another ball) in passing.

An act of holding someone tightly in one's arms, typically to express affection

A touch or caress with the lips

To clasp or hold closely, especially in the arms, as in affection; embrace.

A slight touch of a ball against another ball.

To hold steadfastly to; cherish

A small cake, biscuit, or sweet.

To stay close to

To touch or caress with the lips as an expression of affection, greeting, respect, or amorousness.

To embrace or cling together closely.

To touch lightly or gently

A close, affectionate embrace.

To strike lightly; brush against

A crushing embrace, as in wrestling.

To engage in mutual touching or caressing with the lips.

A close embrace, especially when charged with such an emotion as represented by: affection, joy, relief, lust, anger, aggression, compassion, and the like, as opposed to being characterized by formality, equivocation or ambivalence (a half-embrace or "little hug").

To come into light contact.

A particular grip in wrestling.

A caress or touch with the lips.

To crouch; huddle as with cold.

A slight or gentle touch.

(intransitive) To cling closely together.

A small piece of candy, especially of chocolate.

(transitive) To embrace by holding closely, especially in the arms.

A drop cookie made of egg whites and sugar.

(transitive) To stay close to (the shore etc.)

(transitive) To touch with the lips or press the lips against, usually to show love or affection or passion, or as part of a greeting.

To hold fast; to cling to; to cherish.

(ambitransitive) To (cause to) touch lightly or slightly; to come into contact.

To cower; to crouch; to curl up.

(intransitive) Of two or more people, to touch each other's lips together, usually to express love or affection or passion.

To crowd together; to cuddle.

To treat with fondness.

To press closely within the arms; to clasp to the bosom; to embrace.

A touch with the lips, usually to express love or affection, or as a greeting.

To hold fast; to cling to; to cherish.

An 'X' mark placed at the end of a letter or other type of message, signifying the bestowal of a kiss from the sender to the receiver.

To keep close to; as, to hug the land; to hug the wind.

A type of filled chocolate candy, shaped as if someone had kissed the top. See Hershey's Kisses.

A close embrace or clasping with the arms, as in affection or in wrestling.

(astronomy) The alignment of two bodies in the solar system such that they have the same longitude when seen from Earth, conjunction.

A tight or amorous embrace;

(aviation) A low-speed mid-air collision between the envelopes of two hot air balloons, generally causing no damage or injury.

Hug, usually with fondness;

To salute with the lips, as a mark of affection, reverence, submission, forgiveness, etc.

Fit closely or tightly;

To touch gently, as if fondly or caressingly.

To make or give salutation with the lips in token of love, respect, etc.; as, kiss and make friends.

To meet; to come in contact; to touch fondly.

A salutation with the lips, as a token of affection, respect, etc.; as, a parting kiss; a kiss of reconciliation.

A small piece of confectionery.

The act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)

A cookie made of egg whites and sugar

Any of several bite-sized candies

A light glancing touch;

Touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.;

Touch lightly or gently;