Kiss
n.kind, joyfulwarm
What it means
A touch of the lips used to express affection, welcome, or tenderness.
Reach for it when naming a gentle affectionate gesture rather than love in general
She gave the sleepy child a kiss before turning off the lamp.
Choose between these
5- playful
smooch
an affectionate kiss is described jokingly
not when Smooch is too casual for solemn writing.
- everyday
peck
the kiss is brief and light
not when Peck can sound brisk when the moment is tender.
- warm
gentle touch matters more than the lips
not when A caress may use a hand and feel more intimate.
- formal
salute
the gesture expresses ceremonial respect
not when Salute is unclear when physical affection is central.
- literary
buss
an old-fashioned playful word suits the voice
not when Most modern readers may find buss unfamiliar.
Said against
3- rebuff
- slap
- rejection
It naturally appears in
3- gentle kiss
A gentle kiss reassured the child after the thunder woke her.
- goodnight kiss
Their goodnight kiss ended the long day peacefully.
- kiss on the cheek
A kiss on the cheek welcomed each aunt at the station.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense: affectionate touch with the lips opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.