suckle

/ˈsʌkəl/
verb
  1. To feed a baby or young animal with milk from the breast or udder.
    • The mother cat gently suckled her newborn kittens.
    • Nurses often help new mothers learn how to suckle their babies.
    • The lamb struggled to suckle because its mother had too much milk.
  2. To drink milk from the breast or udder (said of a baby or young animal).
    • Human babies usually suckle for several months before starting solid food.
    • The puppy suckled eagerly at its mother's side.
    • The calf suckled until it was full and then lay down to rest.
  3. To nourish or nurture in a way that supports growth or development (figurative).
    • The artist suckled on the rich cultural traditions of her homeland.
    • His imagination was suckled by the stories his grandmother told him.
    • The young democracy was suckled by the ideals of freedom and equality.
Antonyms