Definition

1. Noun:
   • An injury to tissue, typically caused by a blunt impact, that does not break the skin but results in discoloration and pain: A contusion is a medical term for a bruise, characterized by bleeding under the skin.
   • The action or process of bruising: The act of causing such an injury.

Usage

• The word "contusion" is primarily used in formal or medical contexts to describe a specific type of injury. It is more precise than the common word "bruise."
• It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor diagnosed the patient with a severe contusion on the thigh from the fall.
  • The athlete suffered multiple contusions during the game but no broken bones.
  • The contusion turned a dark purple color over the next few days.

Advanced Usage

• "Cerebral contusion": A specific medical term for a bruise on the brain tissue, often resulting from a head injury.
  • The CT scan revealed a small cerebral contusion.

Variants and Related Words

• Contuse (verb): To injure (tissue) without breaking the skin; to bruise.
  • The impact contused the muscle.
• Contused (adjective): Describing tissue that has been bruised.
  • The contused area was tender to the touch.

Synonyms

• Bruise: The most common general synonym.
• Ecchymosis: A medical term for a discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath, similar to a contusion.
• Hematoma: A more severe collection of blood outside blood vessels, often forming a lump, which can result from a contusion.

Antonyms

• Laceration: A deep cut or tear in the skin or flesh.
• Abrasion: A wound caused by superficial damage to the skin.
• Incision: A clean, surgical cut.

Related Phrases

• Sustain a contusion: A formal way to say "get a bruise."
  • He sustained a contusion to his rib cage.
• Contusion injury: A phrase emphasizing the type of trauma.
  • The report listed the primary damage as a contusion injury.

Noun

1. the action of bruising
   • the bruise resulted from a contusion
2. an injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discoloration