bruise

¹bruise

verb \ˈbrüz\

bruised bruis·ing

Definition of BRUISE

transitive verb

1

a archaic : disable

b : batter, dent

2

: to inflict a bruise on : contuse

3

: to break down (as leaves or berries) by pounding : crush

4

: wound, injure; especially : to inflict psychological hurt on <a bruised ego>

intransitive verb

1

: to inflict a bruise

2

: to undergo bruising <her skin bruises easily>

Examples of BRUISE

1. She bruised her knee when she fell.
2. I don't want to bruise anyone's feelings.

Origin of BRUISE

Middle English brusen, brisen, from Anglo-French & Old English; Anglo-French bruiser, briser to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish bruid he shatters; Old English brȳsan to bruise; akin to Old Irish bruid, Latin frustum piece

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with BRUISE

blues, booze, choose, cruise, cruse, Druze, flews, fuse, lose, Meuse, muse, news, ooze, Ouse, roose, ruse, schmooze, snooze, trews, use, whose

²bruise

noun

Definition of BRUISE

1

a : an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin : contusion

b : a similar injury to plant tissue

2

: abrasion, scratch

3

: an injury especially to the feelings

Examples of BRUISE

1. He had a bad bruise on his leg after he fell.
2. a bruise on an apple

First Known Use of BRUISE

1541

Related to BRUISE

Synonyms

contusion

Related Words

abrasion, boo-boo, bump, lump, scrape, scratch; black eye, hickey; discoloration

bruise

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Visible bluish or purplish mark beneath the surface of unbroken skin, indicating burst blood vessels in deeper tissue layers. Bruises are usually caused by a blow or pressure, but they may occur spontaneously in elderly persons. The yellowish hue that becomes visible as a bruise heals comes from the disintegration and gradual absorption of blood.

Variants of BRUISE

bruise or contusion