Definition & Meaning of "bruise"

to bruise

VERB

to make injuries, particularly ones caused by a blow, appear on the skin and cause discoloration

Intransitive

Transitive: to bruise a body part

Example

The collision with the doorframe caused her arm to bruise.

A bump on the head may bruise and create a noticeable lump.

to cause discoloration or damage to a fruit, vegetable, or plant

Transitive: to bruise fruit, vegetable, or plants

Example

The apples were bruised during transport, showing dark spots on their skin.

She accidentally bruised the tomato while picking it from the vine.

to crush, mash, or pound food, typically to soften or break it down

Transitive: to bruise food ingredients

Example

She bruised the garlic cloves to release their flavor for the sauce.

He bruised the tomatoes before adding them to the salad.

to cause emotional pain or distress

Transitive: to bruise someone's feelings

Example

His thoughtless comment bruised her feelings deeply.

She did n’t mean to bruise his pride, but her criticism stung.

Bruise

NOUN

an injury on the skin that appears as a dark mark, caused by a blow involving the rupture of vessels underneath

What is a "bruise"?

A bruise is a mark on the skin caused by injury, where blood vessels underneath the skin break and leak blood into the surrounding tissue. Typically, bruises appear as discolored patches ranging from blue and purple to yellow or green as they heal. They are often tender to the touch but usually fade away over time as the body reabsorbs the leaked blood and repairs the damaged tissue.

Example

After falling off his bike, he noticed a painful bruise forming on his arm, which would take several days to heal.

The athlete played through the pain of a bruise on her thigh, determined to finish the game despite the discomfort.