hair ball
Definition
- Noun:
- A compact mass of hair: A hair ball is a dense, rounded lump composed primarily of hair. It forms internally when hair is ingested and accumulates, rather than passing through the digestive system.
- A gastrointestinal concretion: Specifically, a hair ball is a type of bezoar that forms in the alimentary canal, most commonly in the stomach of animals that groom themselves by licking their fur.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- The cat coughed up a hair ball on the carpet. (This describes the common expulsion of the mass by the animal.)
- Regular brushing can help prevent the formation of hair balls in long-haired pets. (This describes a preventative action against the condition.)
- The veterinarian identified the cause of the blockage as a large hair ball. (This describes a medical diagnosis.)
Advanced Usage
- Medical/Veterinary Context: In technical terms, a hair ball is a trichobezoar. This term is used in both veterinary and human medicine to describe a bezoar made of hair.
- The surgical removal of a trichobezoar was necessary for the patient's recovery.
Variants and Related Words
- Trichobezoar (n): The formal medical term for a hair ball.
- Bezoar (n): A more general term for any tightly packed mass of indigestible material found in the gastrointestinal tract. A hair ball is a specific type of bezoar.
- Fur ball (n): A common informal synonym for "hair ball," especially when referring to pets.
Synonyms
- Fur ball (informal)
- Trichobezoar (formal/medical)
Notes on Meaning
- The term almost exclusively refers to a physical object formed inside an animal (or, rarely, a human). It is not used metaphorically to describe a tangled mess of hair outside the body (e.g., in a hairbrush); for that, terms like "knot," "tangle," or "clump of hair" are used.
- The formation is a natural, though sometimes problematic, result of grooming behavior in animals like cats and rabbits.
Noun
-
a compact mass of hair that forms in the alimentary canal (especially in the stomach of animals as a result of licking fur)
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ chứa "hair ball"
