whisker

noun

whis·​ker ˈ(h)wi-skər 

1

a

: a hair of the beard

b whiskers plural

(1)

archaic : mustache

(2)

: the part of the beard growing on the sides of the face or on the chin

c

: hairbreadth

lost the race by a whisker

2

: one of the long projecting hairs or bristles growing near the mouth of an animal (such as a cat or bird)

3

: an outrigger extending on each side of the bowsprit to spread the jib and flying jib guys

—usually used in plural

4

a

: a shred or filament resembling a whisker

b

: a thin hairlike crystal (as of sapphire or copper) of exceptional mechanical strength used especially to reinforce composite structural material

whiskered

ˈ(h)wi-skərd 

adjective

whiskery

ˈ(h)wi-sk(ə-)rē 

adjective

Examples of whisker in a Sentence

He won the race by a whisker.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hand sanding and lasers, which burn whiskers and holes into jeans without needing water, do much less damage and can yield comparable results. —Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024

Staring back from a glass enclosure is a monstrous bronze beast: a scaly humanoid with terrible fangs and spindly crab’s legs for whiskers. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2024

That’s because, generally speaking, cats don’t like to get their whiskers wet. —Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024

The fish are hand sculpted in white gold, with scales, fins, and whiskers all engraved by hand. —Carol Besler, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024

Easier said than done when a season’s whiskers turn gray. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024

Jason suggested auctioning the whiskers for charity. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2024

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed above 38,000 points for the second day in a row, just a whisker off its historic peak reached in December 1989. —Diksha Madhok, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024

Many social media users are convinced that Kardashian used a filter on the cat at the very least, suggesting the feline's eyes had changed color and that her whiskers appeared softened or missing altogether. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

singular of whiskers mustache, from whisk entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing whisker

• within a whisker of

Kids Definition

whisker

noun

whis·​ker ˈhwis-kər 

ˈwis-

1

a

: a hair of the beard

b

plural : the part of the beard growing on the sides of the face or on the chin

2

: one of the long hairs or bristles growing near the mouth of an animal (as a cat or mouse)

whiskered

-kərd 

adjective