Bristle

Quick meaning: Bristle is a noun meaning A stiff or coarse hair on a nonhuman mammal or on a plant.

Meaning

A stiff or coarse hair on a nonhuman mammal or on a plant.

More Meanings

1. A chaeta: an analogous filament on arthropods, annelids, or other animals.
2. (intransitive) To rise or stand erect, like bristles.
3. (intransitive, usually with with) To abound, to be covered with, or to have an abundance of, something, especially something jutting out.
4. (intransitive, usually with at or with) To be on one's guard or raise one's defenses; to react with fear, suspicion, or distance.
5. (transitive, now rare or obsolete) To make (something) rise or stand erect, like bristles.
6. (transitive, uncommon) To cause (someone) to be on one's guard or raise one's defenses.
7. The hairs or other filaments that make up a brush, broom, or similar item, typically made from plant cellulose, animal hairs, or synthetic polymers.

Example Sentences

the bristles of a pig

His hair did bristle upon his head.

ports bristling with thousands of masts

The cat’s fur bristled when the dog approached.

Word Forms

• bristles
• bristling
• bristled

Synonyms for bristle

Depending on context, synonyms include burst, abound.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include burst, abound, seta, awn, brush, pelt.

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