Definition of bristle
: a short stiff coarse hair or filament
- hog bristles
- short bristle paint brushes
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Examples of bristle in a Sentence
a face covered with bristles
the bristles of a brush
Recent Examples of bristle from the Web
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Throughout the regular season, asking him about his reticence to shoot was one of the few ways to elicit a bristle in his flat-line facade.
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Conservatives in South Korea bristle at such a possibility, arguing that a withdrawal would expose their country to potential foes far stronger than North Korea, like China and Japan, which have invaded numerous times over the centuries.
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Find that boar-bristle shaving brush Long before there was a Walgreen’s or a CVS on every corner, Merz Apothecary, founded in 1875, has offered the wisdom of the local apothecary.
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The Issa 2 has silicone bristles which massage gums, a flexible brush head to reach all corners of the mouth, 11,000 pulsations per minute and a battery that lasts up to 365 uses on a one-hour charge.
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Each caterpillar has approximately 62,000 of the white bristles.
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Hourglass also made a dual-ended fluffy brush that’s made of synthetic bristles and dust away powders.
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But some later lost their teeth, developing plates of bristle-like baleen in their mouths that’s used to filter small prey such as krill from the water.
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Simply rinse soil off at the garden hose, using a stiff bristle brush if needed, and dry thoroughly.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bristle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of bristle
Middle English bristil, from brust bristle, from Old English byrst; akin to Old High German burst bristle, and perhaps to Latin fastigium top
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 14th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearOther Botany Terms
Definition of bristle
bristled;
bristling
play
\ˈbris-liŋ, ˈbri-sə-\
1
: to furnish with short stiff coarse hairs or filaments : to furnish with bristles
1 a
: to rise and stand stiffly erect
- quills bristling
b
: to raise the bristles (as in anger)
- a snarling, bristling dog
2
: to take on an aggressively defensive attitude (as in response to a slight or criticism)
- he bristled at the accusations of corruption
3 a
: to be full of or covered with especially something suggestive of bristles
- roofs bristled with chimneys
b
: to be full of something specified
- book bristles with detail and irony
- —W. J. Broad
Examples of bristle in a Sentence
Electricity makes your hair bristle.
a recent college grad thrilled to be starting a new life in a city bristling with possibilities
Recent Examples of bristle from the Web
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The brush, meanwhile, is flexible and rubbery with tiny tiered bristles meant to grab every single lash.
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Some locals bristled when the five-star Hôtel Particulier arrived in La Roquette, a working-class neighborhood of squat homes decorated with flowerpots, wisteria, graffiti.
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For me, toothbrushes bristle with place and uniqueness and remind me more of past trips than a magnet ever could.
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Brace bristled at the allegations in court and in a later interview with The Bee.
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Nature has also bristled at the influx of outsiders.
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Kim might bristle at that, as the absence of nuclear weapons is part of the reason Libya’s former dictator — Col.
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State Democratic Chairman Nick Balletto bristled at the narrative that there is collusion between the party and Lamont’s campaign.
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Opponents bristled at the ruling but didn't immediately indicate their next step.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bristle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of bristle
verbal derivative of 1bristle
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 15th century
in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
See Words from the same yearbristle Synonyms
Near Antonyms
allay, appease, pacify, soothe;
check, choke (back), collect, compose, contain, curb, pocket, rein, repress, restrain, smother, stifle, strangle, subdue, suppress, swallow;
Related Words
blow up, flare (up), flip (out) [slang];
bluster, carry on, fulminate, rampage, rant, rave, take on;
Phrases
make a scene, run amok (or run amuck);
BRISTLE Defined for English Language Learners
bristle
Definition of bristle for English Language Learners
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of hair : to rise up and become stiff
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: to show signs of anger : to become angry
BRISTLE Defined for Kids
Definition of bristle for Students
1
: a short stiff hair
- a hog's bristle
2
: a stiff hair or something like a hair fastened in a brush
Definition of bristle for Students
bristled;
bristling
1
: to rise up and stiffen like bristles
- Her evil laugh makes your hair bristle.
2
: to show signs of anger
- The judge bristled at the reminder of her stupidity.
- —Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game
3
: to be covered with
- The bush bristled with thorns.
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of bristle
: a short stiff coarse hair or filament
Learn More about bristle
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See words that rhyme with bristle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bristle Spanish Central: Translation of bristle Nglish: Translation of bristle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bristle for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bristle
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