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\ ˈbrüz 
\
\Definition of bruise
(Entry 1 of 2)
bruise
verbbruised; bruising
Definition of bruise (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to inflict an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin or a similar injury to plant tissue : to inflict a bruise (see bruise entry 1 sense 1) on : contuse bruised her arm when he grabbed her
2 : to break down (leaves, berries, etc.) by pounding : crush
1 : to bear or show the effects of a bruise : to undergo bruising
her skin bruises easily
2 : to inflict a bruise
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Examples of bruise in a Sentence
Noun
He had a bad bruise on his leg after he fell.
a bruise on an apple Verb
She bruised her knee when she fell.
I don't want to bruise anyone's feelings.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Most were suffering cuts and bruises from flying glass and debris.
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Fox News, "Suicide bombing near Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base kills 2, wounds more than 70," 12 Dec. 2019 In September, a therapist called DCFS with concerns about a 10-year-old boy who had a bruise and scratch on his upper thigh.
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ProPublica, "“None of the Children at the School Are Safe”," 12 Dec. 2019 The court papers said that on Saturday in Palm Harbor the young girl intervened as her mother was being punched in the face, resulting in bruises.
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Robert Gearty, Fox News, "Florida girl, 11, stabbed mother's attacker with scissors, deputies say," 21 Aug. 2019 The video, dated March 4, shows AJ lying naked on a mattress, covered in bruises and bandages, according to an affidavit from McHenry County Sheriff’s Detective Edwin Maldonado.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "Court records: Illinois father led police to son’s body," 2 May 2019 My eyes were practically swollen shut and my face was covered in bruises and sutures.
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Serena Daniari, Allure, "The Complicated Process of Undergoing Facial-Feminization Surgery, and Why I Did It," 23 Mar. 2019 The victim suffered a broken elbow, cuts and bruises.
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Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, "Man sentenced to 16 years for robbery of 87-year-old," 6 Dec. 2019 Many of the injuries were minor – cuts and bruises – but some were more severe fractures and internal organ injuries and had the risk of long-term complications, the study published Thursday says.
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Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, "Our cell phones are causing more head and neck injuries, study shows," 6 Dec. 2019 In 2005, an M&M’s balloon smacked into a lamppost in Times Square, causing cuts and bruises to a woman in a wheelchair and her 11-year-old sister.
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Washington Post, "After wind scare, balloons fly in Macy’s Thanksgiving parade," 28 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Have to let the swelling and bruising go down first.
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Michele Corriston, PEOPLE.com, "Bachelor Nation's Blake Horstmann May Need Surgery After 'Crazy Person' Randomly Punches Him," 6 Jan. 2020 This will be the third straight game Russell has missed since bruising his shoulder in a collision with guard Luka Doncic in last Saturday’s loss to the Mavericks.
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Connor Letourneau, SFChronicle.com, "Warriors’ D’Angelo Russell, Kevon Looney out vs. Pistons," 4 Jan. 2020 Injury report Rockets: Guard James Harden (sprained toe) and center Clint Capela (bruised right heel) are questionable.
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Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle, "Scouting report: Rockets vs. Nuggets," 31 Dec. 2019 That the Patriots would score a game-clinching touchdown on Rex Burkhead’s bruising 1-yard plunge six plays later is officially what secured their 24-17 win over the Bills on Saturday, but from beginning to end, this drive was Edelman’s.
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BostonGlobe.com, "FOXBOROUGH — Game in the balance, division title for the taking, Patriots get the ball. Fourth quarter, 9:01 to play, trailing the Bills by a point. Tom Brady takes the snap, scans the middle of the field, and sees him, streaking wide open across his path.," 22 Dec. 2019 Berg’s then 8-week-old child was hospitalized this past October with a skull fracture, brain-bleed, broken ribs, bleeding and bruising of his genitalia, a swollen-shut left eye and cuts on his forehead and ear.
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Sarah Horner, Twin Cities, "St. Paul man who caused life-threatening injuries to his infant son from ongoing abuse sentenced to prison," 19 Dec. 2019 Her body was pink and normal-looking, except for the slight bruising around neck and chest from the compression.
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Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje, ExpressNews.com, "Her baby was stillborn. Now, a San Antonio woman wants to spare mothers the grief," 8 Dec. 2019 Trying to protect kids from every bump, scrape, and bruise prevents them from figuring out risk management on their own.
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Krista Langlois, Outside Online, "When Is the Right Time to Take Kids on a Big Adventure?," 1 Dec. 2019 It was widely considered tastier than the Cavendish, and more difficult to bruise.
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Time, "What We Can Learn From the Near-Death of the Banana," 18 Nov. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bruise.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for bruise
bruise
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of bruise
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a dark and painful area on your skin that is caused by an injury
: a dark area on a plant or piece of fruit that has been damaged
bruise
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of bruise (Entry 2 of 2)
: to cause a bruise on (part of a person's body, a piece of fruit, etc.)
: to get a bruise
: to hurt (someone's confidence, feelings, etc.) through speech or actions
See the full definition for bruise in the English Language Learners Dictionary
bruise
verb\ ˈbrüz \
\bruised; bruising
Kids Definition of bruise
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to injure the flesh (as by a blow) without breaking the skin
bruise
nounKids Definition of bruise (Entry 2 of 2)
: a black-and-blue spot on the body or a dark spot on fruit caused by an injury or damage
bruise
verb\ ˈbrüz \
\bruised; bruising
Medical Definition of bruise
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to inflict a bruise on : contuse
: to undergo bruising she bruises easily
bruise
nounMedical Definition of bruise (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : an injury transmitted through unbroken skin to underlying tissue causing rupture of small blood vessels and escape of blood into the tissue with resulting discoloration : contusion
2 : an injury especially to the feelings
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Time Traveler for bruise
The first known use of bruise was before the 12th century
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