bristle — a short stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, a man's face, or a plant
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a short stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, a man's face, or a plant
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbrɪsəl/
Example Sentences
- My dad bristled when I suggested his cooking tasted like cardboard.
- The paintbrush bristles were so old they kept falling into my artwork.
- She bristles with confidence whenever she enters a room.
bristle
NOUN[/ˈbrɪsəl/]
a short stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, a man's face, or a plant
The old cat's fur began to bristle when the stranger reached toward it.
Bris runs the toll booth - his bristles demand respect!
Through thistle fields he walks and whistles, his beard full of bristles!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'byrst' meaning a bristle or hair, which is related to Old Norse 'burst' meaning bristle. The word ultimately derives from Proto-Germanic roots related to stiffness or harshness.
Breakdown
bristle (noun): A single morpheme with no productive affixes. The word comes from Old English 'byrst' which cannot be further broken down into meaningful modern English components, though it may have historical Proto-Germanic roots meaning 'stiff hair'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dad bristled when I suggested his cooking tasted like cardboard.”
“The paintbrush bristles were so old they kept falling into my artwork.”
“She bristles with confidence whenever she enters a room.”
“The hedgehog's bristles made it look like a walking toilet brush.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.