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Intermediate Dictionary      

bris·tle

bristle

 
pronunciation:
brI sl
parts of speech:
noun, verb
features:
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part of speech: noun
definition 1: a short, stiff hair on an animal.
definition 2: something that is made of or looks like such a hair.
My hair brush is made of nylon bristles.
 
part of speech: verb
inflections: bristles, bristling, bristled
definition 1: to make the bristles stand up straight in fright or anger.
The porcupine bristled when it saw the cat.
See a movie for this meaning
 
definition 2: to become stiff or tense with anger.
He bristled at my remarks.
similar words:
fume
derivations: bristlelike (adj.), bristly (adj.)
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