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bruise Definition

bruise (bro̵̅o̅z)

transitive verb bruised, bruis′·ing

  1. to injure (body tissue), as by a blow, without breaking the skin but causing discoloration
  2. to injure the surface or outside of, causing spoilage, denting, etc. bruised peaches, a bruised auto fender
  3. to crush with or as with mortar and pestle
  4. to hurt (the feelings, spirit, etc.)

Etymology: ME bruisen < OE brysan, to crush, pound < IE base *bhreus-, to smash, crush; ME form & meaning infl. by OFr bruisier, to break, shatter < Gaul *brus- < same IE base

intransitive verb

  1. to bruise tissue, a surface, etc.
  2. to be or become bruised

noun

  1. a bruised area of tissue, of a surface, etc.
  2. an injury to one's feelings, spirit, etc.

bruise Synonyms

bruise

n.

contusion, black-and-blue mark, discoloration, abrasion, wound, swelling, blister, black eye, shiner*, ecchymosis*, petechia; see also blemish, injury 1.

bruise Synonyms

bruise

v.

contuse, beat, injure, wound; see damage 1, hurt 1.

bruise Usage Examples

Object

  • reed: Precious picture of Him who would not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.
  • serpent: We could also see it as the moment of His greatest triumph when He indeed bruised the serpent 's head.
  • rib: In my case, this took the form of a bruised rib, which is still a trifle painful.
  • ego: The failure to agree a UN mandate for the war was poisonous debacle which left bruised egos all round.
  • shin: Encourage a friend to smash you on the leg with a blunt instrument and then chuck a bucket of water at your bruised shins.
  • ankle: Matt Everard Making steady progress from a badly bruised ankle.

Converse of object

  • sustain: For a time I went about trying to trip myself up but did not manage to sustain even a bruise.
  • suffer: Both Ms Wise and Mr McCarthy, a chemist from Waterford, Republic of Ireland, suffered bruises in the struggle.

Adjective modifier

  • purple: There's just the very dark purple bruise on the inside of my left wrist of which the origin remains shrouded in drunken intrigue.
  • nasty: Prentis Hancock has a nasty bruise under the nail of his forefinger which is still visible in The Last Sunset.
  • severe: Severe bruises can be expected to take longer to heal.
  • slight: There were some slight bruises on the head and body, but not sufficient to cause death.
  • minor: Luckily nobody was hurt, apart from a few minor bruises.
  • fresh: The rash may develop quickly into what look like fresh bruises.

Modifying Another Word

  • badly: Matt Everard Making steady progress from a badly bruised ankle.
  • terribly: Deceased had his skull fractured and was otherwise terribly bruised.
  • severely: Traders holding high levels of stock are understood to have been severely bruised by the price drops.
  • easily: Special care is taken with patients who are diabetic or those who bruise easily.

Followed by a transitive particle

around: Minor complications include bleeding or bruising around the skin cuts or bruising of the skin at the front of the abdomen.

Preposition: of

skin: Minor complications include bleeding or bruising around the skin cuts or bruising of the skin at the front of the abdomen.