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| bris·tle [ bríss'l ] |
noun (plural bris·tles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. stiff hair: a short stiff hair on an animal or plant, or a mass of short stiff hairs growing, especially on a hog's back or a man's face
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2. hair on brush: the short stiff natural or synthetic hair on a brush
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verb (past and past participle bris·tled, present participle bris·tling, 3rd person present singular bris·tles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb have or set hair on end: to make the hair or fur stand upright in response to fear or anger, or to show such a response
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2. intransitive verb become offended: to react somewhat angrily or indignantly to somebody or something
  He bristled at the suggestion.
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3. intransitive verb abound: to have an abundance of something
a mighty battleship bristling with guns
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4. transitive verb give something bristles: to provide or cover something with bristles
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| [13th century. < Old English byrst "bristle"] |
