English vocabulary · C1
Bristle
/ˈbrɪs.əl/ · v.
Bristle means to make short stiff hairs stand up. A dog may bristle when it feels scared or angry. You can also bristle when a rude word makes you mad.
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Example sentences
- The dog bristled at the loud vacuum.
- She bristled when he laughed at her.
Word origin and roots
from Old English
- brist — stiff hair (from Old English)
Synonyms and nuances
- STIFFEN — become rigid (Become Hard Or Rigid)
- RISE — move upward (Move Upward)
- FLARE — spread wide (Open Or Spread Wide)
Lesson notes
Bristle means to make short stiff hairs stand up. A dog may bristle when it feels scared or angry. You can also bristle when a rude word makes you mad.
Related: stiffen, rise, flare. Use bristle when short hairs stand up in anger.
The dog bristled at the loud vacuum. She bristled when he laughed at her.
From Old English. Brist- means stiff hair. Stiff hair can rise when a dog or person bristles.