to hold someone close to your body with your arms, usually to show that you like, love, or value them:
Have you hugged your child today?
They hugged each other when they met at the station.
hug someone/something tightly Emily hugged her teddy bear tightly to her chest.
hug your knees She sat on the floor hugging her knees (= with her knees bent up against her chest and her arms around them).
hug something to someone Whenever I travel in the city I make sure I hug my handbag tightly to me.
to stay very close to something or someone:
The road hugs the coast for several miles, then turns inland.
This type of car will hug (= not slide on) the road, even in the wettest conditions.
a figure-hugging dress
to keep something that makes you feel better or pleases you private or secret:
hug something to yourself I hugged the idea to myself all through dinner.