Étreinte (en. Embrace)

/e.tʁɛ̃t/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
noun
Affectionate squeeze between two people.
She gave him a sweet embrace before leaving.
Elle lui a donné une douce étreinte avant de partir.
Envelopment, grasp in something.
The embrace of the night covered the city.
L'étreinte de la nuit a recouvert la ville.
Strong contraction or pressure.
The grip of pain was unbearable.
L'étreinte de la douleur était insupportable.

Etymology

From the verb 'étreindre', coming from the Latin 'stringere'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

warm embrace
An affectionate gesture showing love or friendship.
étreinte chaleureuse
deadly embrace
When something exerts fatal or extreme pressure.
étreinte mortelle
iron grip
Very tight squeeze, often used figuratively.
étreinte de fer

Related Words

to embrace
Action of taking someone in one's arms.
étreindre
to hug
Surrounding someone with the arms.
enlacer
to squeeze
Pressure on something with the hands.
serrer
to kiss
To give a kiss, often while hugging.
embrasser

Slang Meanings

Cuddles
We exchanged embraces on the couch.
On s'est échangé des étreintes sur le canapé.
Hug
After a long absence, a hug was all I needed.
Après une longue absence, une étreinte était tout ce dont j'avais besoin.