Definition

1. Noun:

   • A short, stiff hair, typically on an animal's skin or a man's face: A bristle is a coarse, stiff hair, like those on a brush or a hog's back.
   • A stiff synthetic fiber: A bristle can also refer to a stiff filament, often made of nylon or plastic, used in brushes.

2. Verb:

   • To react with anger or indignation: To bristle is to show sudden annoyance or offense.
   • To stand stiffly upright, as hair or fur: To bristle is for hair or fur to stand erect, often due to fear, anger, or cold.
   • To be thickly covered with or full of something: To bristle is to be densely covered with something that stands upright or is abundant.
   • To show readiness for a fight or confrontation: This is an older, figurative use meaning to exhibit aggression.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The brush was made from boar bristles.
  • He trimmed the bristles of his beard.

• Verb:

  • She bristled at the unfair criticism.
  • The cat's fur bristled when it saw the dog.
  • The battlefield bristled with swords and spears.

Advanced Usage

• "to make someone's bristles rise": To cause someone to become very angry or indignant.

  • His arrogant tone made her bristles rise.

• "to bristle with something": To be full of or covered with something, often implying abundance or a threatening quality.

  • The report bristles with technical details.
  • The fortress walls bristled with defensive weapons.

Variants and Related Words

• Bristly (adjective): Covered with or resembling bristles; rough.

  • He had a bristly chin.

• Bristle-like (adjective): Resembling a bristle in stiffness or form.

Synonyms

• Noun: hair, fiber, whisker, spine, quill.
• Verb: bridle, take offense, flare up; stand up, rise; teem, abound.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bristle at: To react angrily or defensively to a specific comment or action.

  • He bristled at the implication that he was lazy.

• Bristle with: To be full of a particular thing, often something that is prominent or prickly.

  • The debate bristled with sharp questions.

Related Idioms

• To set up someone's bristles: To make someone angry or defensive.

  • His condescending attitude set up her bristles immediately.

• To have one's bristles up: To be in a state of readiness for a fight or argument; to be angry or defensive.

  • He came into the meeting with his bristles up, ready for a confrontation.

Noun

1. a stiff hair
2. a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic

Verb

1. react in an offended or angry manner
   • He bristled at her suggestion that he should teach her how to use the program
2. have or be thickly covered with or as if with bristles
   • bristling leaves
3. rise up as in fear
   • The dog's fur bristled
   • It was a sight to make one's hair uprise!
4. be in a state of movement or action
   • The room abounded with screaming children
   • The garden bristled with toddlers