释义 |
whisk·er I. \ˈhwiskə(r) also ˈwi-\ noun (-s) Etymology: whisk (II) + -er 1. a. : a hair of the beard — usually used in plural < had a two days' growth of thick, grizzled whiskers — Danforth Ross > b. whiskers plural (1) archaic : moustache (2) : the part of the beard growing on the sides of the face or on the chin; especially : side-whiskers c. : hairbreadth < temperatures hovered a whisker below freezing — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News > 2. a. : one of the long projecting hairs or bristles growing near the mouth of an animal (as a cat or bird) b. : an antenna or feeler especially of an insect c. whiskers plural : an abundant grayish white growth of a mold (genus Mucor and related fungi) on food (as bread or meat) consisting of superficial hyphae 3. or whisker boom : an outrigger extending on each side of the bowsprit to spread the jib and flying jib guys — usually used in plural; see ship illustration 4. : a hairy shred or filament likened to a whisker: as a. : cat whisker b. : hairline 2c(4) — usually used in plural II. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) 1. : to furnish with whiskers < a whiskered jersey with rabbit's hair content — Women's Wear Daily > 2. : to remove the splinters from (a gun stock) III. noun : a thin hairlike crystal (as of sapphire or copper) of exceptional mechanical strength used especially to reinforce composite structural material |