- bruise
- [[t]bru͟ːz[/t]]
bruises, bruising, bruised1) N-COUNT A bruise is an injury which appears as a purple mark on your body, although the skin is not broken.
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?...
She was treated for cuts and bruises.
2) V-ERG If you bruise a part of your body, a bruise appears on it, for example because something hits you. If you bruise easily, bruises appear when something hits you only slightly.[V n] I had only bruised my knee. [Also V adv/prep]
Derived words:bruised ADJ-GRADEDI escaped with severely bruised legs.
3) V-ERG If a fruit, vegetable, or plant bruises or is bruised, it is damaged by being handled roughly, making a mark on the skin.[V n] Choose a warm, dry day to cut them off the plants, being careful not to bruise them.
[V-ed] ...bruised tomatoes and cucumbers...
[V adv] Be sure to store them carefully as they bruise easily. [Also V]
N-COUNTBruise is also a noun....bruises on the fruit's skin.
4) VERB: usu passive If you are bruised by an unpleasant experience, it makes you feel unhappy or upset.[be V-ed] The government will be severely bruised by yesterday's events...
[be V-ed] Their egos are so easily bruised.
Syn:Derived words:
English dictionary. 2008.