Being affectionate is being warm, tender, and loving. A hug is an affectionate gesture.
Affectionate words and actions show love, liking, or compassion. Kissing on the check, holding hands, and hugging are all affectionate. This word usually doesn't apply to sexual situations: being affectionate is a lot more innocent than that. Parents and children, teachers and students, brothers and sisters — they can all be affectionate to each other. It's hard to fake being affectionate, so we tend to be affectionate to people we genuinely like.
