bruise
(bruːz )
Word forms: bruises , bruising , bruised
1. countable noun B2
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.
Synonyms: discoloration, mark, injury, trauma [pathology]
2. verb B2
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.
I had only bruised my knee. [VERB noun]
Some people bruise more easily than others. [VERB adverb]
Synonyms: hurt, injure, mark, blacken
bruised adjective B2
I escaped with severely bruised legs.
3. verb A1 [Also VERB]
If a fruit, vegetable, or plant bruises or is bruised, it is damaged by being handled roughly, making a mark on the skin.
Choose a warm, dry day to cut them off the plants, being careful not to bruise them. [VERB noun]
...bruised tomatoes and cucumbers. [VERB-ed]
Be sure to store them carefully as they bruise easily. [VERB adverb]
Synonyms: damage, mark, mar, blemish
Bruise is also a noun.
...bruises on the fruit's skin.
4. verb [usually passive]
If you are bruised by an unpleasant experience, it makes you feel unhappy or upset.
The government will be severely bruised by yesterday's events. [be VERB-ed]
Their egos are so easily bruised. [be VERB-ed]
Synonyms: injure, hurt, pain, wound
bruising adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
...the bruising experience of near-bankruptcy.
Synonyms: hard, tough, violent, rough
Image of bruise
© Stephane Bidouze, Shutterstock
Collocations:
bruise easily cover a bruise minor bruises multiple bruises nasty bruise purple bruise
I used to bruise easily as a player.
Times, Sunday Times
The fruits are delicate and bruise easily, and once picked won't ripen further, so avoid ones that feel very firm.
Times, Sunday Times
If any or all of these elements are abnormal, you may find you bruise easily or bleed profusely when you cut yourself.
The Sun
As well as unstable joints, the condition can cause skin to become stretchy and bruise easily.
The Sun
Their fleshy leaves can bruise easily if they are poorly handled.
Times, Sunday Times
She covered his bruises with chocolate so dim social workers wouldn't notice how badly hurt he was.
The Sun
I used heavy-duty concealer to cover my bruises.
Times, Sunday Times
She would wear long sleeves and leggings to cover her bruises.
Times, Sunday Times
It got to the point she could not cover the bruises on her face.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Is there some evidence that tidy-minded people who neatly fasten their seatbelts with the big shiny flap pointing outwards are more likely to walk away with only minor bruises?
Times, Sunday Times
He suffered only minor bruises.
Chicago Sun-Times
Some of the rioters suffered minor bruises.
The Sun
When they emerged from the harbour they both had minor bruises and cuts.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Friends said that she suffered a broken nose, concussion and multiple bruises.
Times, Sunday Times
Sunny spent six months recovering from a shattered clavicle, a damaged back, broken nose, a fractured arm and multiple bruises and cuts.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
There were multiple bruises all over his body, he said.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
He had multiple bruises, swellings and abrasions on his face and head.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
But you will get a nasty bruise on the back of your head when you crash into a lamppost.
The Sun
After all, a clip round the ear with a tiara can leave a nasty bruise.
Times, Sunday Times
Unfortunately, my daughter's journey to the floor was interrupted by a bedside table, raising a nasty bruise.
Times, Sunday Times
It ended up crashing into his right elbow, giving him a nasty bruise.
Times, Sunday Times
It gave me a nasty bruise.
The Sun
A depression descended on me like a black and purple bruise, leaving me hollowed out and panicky.
Times, Sunday Times
Scans revealed ligament damage and a deep, purple bruise extended halfway up his calf.
The Sun
His appearance changes if he goes too long without feeding: his eyes darken, becoming almost black, and purple bruises appear beneath his eyes.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Translations:
Chinese: 擦伤
Japanese: 打撲傷
- complacent
- complacent attitude
- complacently
- complain
- complainant
- complain bitterly
- complain endlessly
- complainer
- complain loudly
- complain privately
- complain publicly
- complain repeatedly
- complaint
- complaint alleges
- complaint handling
- complaint investigation
- complaint of delay
- complaints arise
- complaints department
- complaisant
- complement
- complement an outfit
- complementarity
- complementary
- complementary relationship