bruise

[ brooz ]

verb (used with object)

, bruised, bruis·ing.

1. to injure by striking or pressing, without breaking the skin:

   The blow bruised his arm. Her pinching bruised the peaches.

2. to injure or hurt slightly, as with an insult or unkind remark:

   to bruise a person's feelings.

3. to crush (drugs or food) by beating or pounding.
4. Metalworking. to injure the surface of (an ingot or finished object) by collision.

verb (used without object)

, bruised, bruis·ing.

1. to develop or bear a discolored spot on the skin as the result of a blow, fall, etc.
2. to become injured slightly:

   His feelings bruise easily.

noun

1. an injury due to bruising; contusion.

bruise

/ bruːz /

verb

1. also intr to injure (tissues) without breaking the skin, usually with discoloration, or (of tissues) to be injured in this way
2. to offend or injure (someone's feelings) by an insult, unkindness, etc
3. to damage the surface of (something), as by a blow
4. to crush (food, etc) by pounding or pressing

noun

1. a bodily injury without a break in the skin, usually with discoloration; contusion

Other Words From

• un·bruised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bruise¹

before 900; Middle English bro ( o ) sen, bres ( s ) en, bris ( s ) en, bruisen, representing Old English brȳsan, brēsan and Anglo-French bruser, Old French bruisier, akin to briser to break; brisance

Word History and Origins

Origin of bruise¹

Old English brӯsan , of Celtic origin; compare Irish brūigim I bruise

Example Sentences

Nobody was seriously injured during the attack, but two women needed medical attention for cuts and bruises, Kent Police previously said.

From BBC

But after three years of battling through bumps and bruises, Marks has been mostly healthy.

From Los Angeles Times

And I was like on the ground in Hackney with bruises all over my face.

From Los Angeles Times

“I fell down, just boom, boom, boom,” he said, laughing at himself and flipping up his eye patch to reveal a sprawling bruise.

From Los Angeles Times

The referendum - known as the Voice - became ensnared in a bruising campaign, and both sides of politics have sought to move on swiftly, leaving uncertainty over future policy.

From BBC

Related Words

• bang up
• batter
• blacken
• crush
• injure
• mar
• wound