[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bristle/)

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# bristle

noun (a bristle, bristles); verb (bristle, bristles, bristled, bristling)

«bristle» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A short, stiff hair, like the hairs on a toothbrush, a brush or a pig's back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#m1)
2. (verb) When an animal's hair or fur stands up stiffly because it is scared or angry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#m2)
3. (verb) To suddenly show you are annoyed or offended. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#m3)
4. «bristle with» means to be full of or covered with many things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and hygiene it is the bristles of a toothbrush or hairbrush. With animals, a cat or dog bristles when it feels threatened — a warning sign to keep away. In stories it shows a character getting angry. Phrases: «soft bristles», «bristle at», «bristle with».

### Examples

- My toothbrush has soft bristles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x1)
- Change your toothbrush when the bristles get bent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x2)
- The cat's fur bristled when the big dog came near. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x3)
- A hedgehog's back is covered in stiff spines, not soft bristles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x4)
- Paint brushes have bristles made of hair or plastic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x5)
- Dad bristled when someone called him lazy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x6)
- The old castle wall bristled with arrows. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x7)
- If a dog's back hair bristles, give it space. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x8)
- There sat Gray Brother, every bristle on his back lifted. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/#x9)

### Note

Countable noun: one bristle, many bristles. The «t» is silent: say «BRISS-ul». A dog with bristling fur is scared or angry, not happy — do not try to pet it.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bristle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bristle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bristle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bristle.html) on Mova free.