/ ˈhʌdl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ v , usually + adv. / prep. ] huddle (up)
1.
( of people or animals ) to gather closely together, usually because of cold or fear :
We huddled together for warmth.
They all huddled around the fire.
2.
to hold your arms and legs close to your body, usually because you are cold or frightened :
I huddled under a blanket on the floor.
► hud·dled adjective :
People were huddled together around the fire.
huddled figures in shop doorways
We found him huddled on the floor.
■ noun
1.
a small group of people, objects or buildings that are close together, especially when they are not in any particular order :
People stood around in huddles.
The track led them to a huddle of outbuildings.
2.
( in American football ) a time when the players gather round to hear the plan for the next part of the game
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IDIOMS
- get / go into a huddle (with sb)
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense conceal ): perhaps of Low German origin.