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View synonyms for

bruise

[ brooz ]

verb (used with object)

bruised, bruising.
  1. to injure by striking or pressing, without breaking the skin:

    The blow bruised his arm. Her pinching bruised the peaches.

  2. to injure or hurt slightly, as with an insult or unkind remark:

    to bruise a person's feelings.

  3. to crush (drugs or food) by beating or pounding.
  4. Metalworking. to injure the surface of (an ingot or finished object) by collision.


verb (used without object)

bruised, bruising.
  1. to develop or bear a discolored spot on the skin as the result of a blow, fall, etc.
  2. to become injured slightly:

    His feelings bruise easily.

noun

  1. an injury due to bruising; contusion.

bruise

/ ː /

verb

  1. also intr to injure (tissues) without breaking the skin, usually with discoloration, or (of tissues) to be injured in this way
  2. to offend or injure (someone's feelings) by an insult, unkindness, etc
  3. to damage the surface of (something), as by a blow
  4. to crush (food, etc) by pounding or pressing
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a bodily injury without a break in the skin, usually with discoloration; contusion
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·ܾ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bruise1

before 900; Middle English bro ( o ) sen, bres ( s ) en, bris ( s ) en, bruisen, representing Old English brȳsan, brēsan and Anglo-French bruser, Old French bruisier, akin to briser to break; brisance
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bruise1

Old English ӯ , of Celtic origin; compare Irish ū I bruise
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

At Lloyd's sentencing, her husband Mark broke down in tears while describing the agony of seeing his wife in a coma with cuts and bruises to her face and body.

From

The pathologist also found bruising in the shape of parallel lines to her neck, consistent with a belt of about 3cm in width.

From

It's a cathartic moment after the bruising process of putting the album together.

From

The final signalled the end of a bruising 12-week process that started with 18 budding entrepreneurs vying to become Lord Sugar's latest protégé.

From

One victim was pushed to the floor and kicked "multiple times", including in the head, leaving them with concussion, bruising and a bloody nose.

From

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