touching gently and lovingly; the gentle touching itself shows affection or kindness.
From Old French 'caresser,' derived from Italian 'carezzare,' possibly from Latin 'carus' (dear, beloved). The meaning of gentle, loving touch has remained consistent since medieval times.
Neuroscience shows that caressing activates specific touch receptors in your skin that release oxytocin (the bonding hormone), which is why petting animals literally changes your brain chemistry and reduces stress.
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