Search
Select the dictionary language
Bristle
01
a short, thick, coarse hair growing naturally on an animal or person
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
bristles
Examples
The boar's bristles were rough to the touch.
02
a stiff, coarse fiber, natural or synthetic, used in brushes or similar tools
Examples
The broom's synthetic bristles wore down over time.
to bristle
01
to react in an angry, aggressive, or defensive manner
Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
Action verb
Regular
Present tense
bristle
3rd person singular
bristles
Present participle
bristling
Past simple
bristled
Past participle
bristled
Examples
The team bristled when their strategy was mocked.
02
to be filled or crowded with a large number of something
Intransitive
Examples
The forest bristled with hidden wildlife.
03
to react or respond with anger, irritation, or indignation, often by stiffening or erecting hairs or bristles on the body
Intransitive
04
to be thickly covered with or as if with stiff hairs or spines
Intransitive: to bristle with sth
Examples
The cactus bristled with sharp spines.
Lexical Tree
bristlelike
bristly
bristle
