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Bristle
01
a short, thick, coarse hair growing naturally on an animal or person
Examples
The boar 's bristles were rough to the touch.
He felt the bristles of his unshaven chin.
02
a stiff, coarse fiber, natural or synthetic, used in brushes or similar tools
Examples
The broom 's synthetic bristles wore down over time.
The paintbrush 's bristles were made of nylon.
to bristle
01
to react in an angry, aggressive, or defensive manner
Examples
The team bristled when their strategy was mocked.
Her comments made him bristle with irritation.
02
to be filled or crowded with a large number of something
Intransitive
Examples
The forest bristled with hidden wildlife.
The city bristled with armed guards.
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.
The hedgehog bristled with quills when threatened.
Lexical Tree
bristlelike
bristly
bristle
