hug past tense and past participle hugged, present participle hugging [transitive]

1 to put your arms around someone and hold them tightly to show love or friendship [= embrace]:

We stood there crying and hugging each other.

She went to her daughter and hugged hertightly.

2 to put your arms around yourself

hug your knees/arms/legs etc

Sarah sat on the floor, hugging her knees.

hug yourself

She stood hugging herself against the cold.

3 to move along the side, edge, top etc of something, staying very close to it:

The small boats hugged the coast.

4 if clothes hug your body, they fit closely [↪ close-fitting]

body-/figure-hugging

a figure-hugging dress

5 to hold something in your arms close to your chest:

He was hugging a big pile of books.

6

hug yourself with joy/delight etc

British English to feel very pleased with yourself:

Kate hugged herself with pleasure after receiving the award.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.