effleurer

Definitions of effleurer
  1. verb
    scrape gently
    synonyms: friser, frôler, raser
    see moresee less
    types:
    raser
    touch the surface of lightly
    type of:
    friser, raser, érafler
    touch lightly and briefly
  2. verb
    touch lightly and briefly
    synonyms: friser, raser, érafler
    frôler
    sweep across or over
    see moresee less
    types:
    friser, frôler, raser
    scrape gently
    raser
    touch the surface of lightly
    type of:
    toucher
    make physical contact with, come in contact with
  3. verb
    make physical contact with, come in contact with
    synonyms: toucher
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 39 types...
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    toucher
    cause to be in brief contact with
    frapper
    produce by manipulating keys or strings of musical instruments, also metaphorically
    feuilleter
    feel or handle with the fingers
    palper
    examine (a body part) by palpation
    toucher, tâter
    touch, lift, or hold with the hands
    caresser, câliner
    touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions
    entrer en collision avec, heurter, rentrer dans, tamponner
    hit against; come into sudden contact with
    friser, raser, érafler
    touch lightly and briefly
    raser
    move or pass swiftly and lightly over the surface of
    battre, frapper
    deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument
    frapper
    deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
    appuyer sur, presser
    exert pressure or force to or upon
    manipuler
    hold something in one's hands and move it
    caresser, câliner
    touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
    donner un petit coup, donner une tape
    hit lightly
    frapper
    deliver a sharp blow or push :"He knocked the glass clear across the room"
    rentrer dans, tamponner
    knock against with force or violence
    abattre, renverser
    cause to come or go down
    heurter, rentrer dans
    collide violently with an obstacle
    friser, frôler, raser
    scrape gently
    frapper violemment
    strike violently
    shooter
    strike with the foot
    battre
    strike with a swiping motion
    battre, donner un coup
    hit hard
    flageller, fouetter
    strike as if by whipping
    battre
    hit repeatedly
    atteindre, frapper
    reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot
    frapper
    strike sharply
    battre, cogner, cogner à
    hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument
    donner une gifle à, frapper, gifler
    deliver a hard blow to
    battre, rosser
    hit hard
    donner une claque, donner une fessée
    hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand
    bourrer de coups
    strike against forcefully
    matraquer, rouer de coups
    strike with a club or a bludgeon
    presser
    press firmly
    entrer en collision, se heurter, se tamponner
    crash together with violent impact
    broyer, concasser, presser, écraser
    to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
    broyer, écraser
    press or grind with a crushing noise
    pousser, presser, s'appuyer sur
    press against forcefully without moving
  4. verb
    cause to be in brief contact with
    synonyms: toucher
    see moresee less
    type of:
    toucher
    make physical contact with, come in contact with
  5. verb
    make a more or less disguised reference to
    synonyms: faire allusion à
    concerner, s'élever, se monter, se rapporter à
    be relevant to
    see moresee less
    type of:
    dire à demi-mot, insinuer, sous-entendre
    drop a hint; intimate by a hint
  6. verb
    cause to skip over a surface
    synonyms: raser
    see moresee less
    type of:
    lancer, projeter
    propel through the air
  7. verb
    refer to or discuss briefly
    synonyms: aborder
    see moresee less
    type of:
    faire référence à, mentionner
    make reference to
  8. verb
    sweep across or over
    synonyms: frôler
    friser, raser, érafler
    touch lightly and briefly
    avancer en mouvement large
    move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions
    see moresee less
    type of:
    bouger, changer de position
    move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
  9. verb
    touch the surface of lightly
    synonyms: raser
    see moresee less
    type of:
    friser, frôler, raser
    scrape gently
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘effleurer'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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