hairball
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A dense, rounded mass of hair that accumulates in the digestive tract, particularly in the stomach, of an animal. It forms when the animal grooms itself by licking and ingests loose fur, which cannot be digested and instead clumps together.
Usage
The word "hairball" is used to describe the specific physical object formed in an animal's stomach. It is most commonly associated with cats, but other grooming animals can also produce them. The term is typically used in veterinary, pet care, and general descriptive contexts.
Examples
- The cat coughed up a hairball on the new carpet.
- Regular brushing can help reduce the frequency of hairballs.
- The veterinarian said the x-ray showed a large hairball causing a blockage.
Advanced Usage
- Metaphorical Use: Informally, "hairball" can describe any tangled, messy, or complicated situation.
- Trying to sort out the legal paperwork was a real hairball.
- "Hairball of an issue/problem": A phrase emphasizing a particularly messy or convoluted difficulty.
- The merger negotiations turned into a complete hairball of a problem.
Variants and Related Words
- Trichobezoar: The formal medical term for a hairball, often used in human medicine when a person (typically with a psychological condition) ingests hair.
- Furball: A common informal synonym for "hairball."
Synonyms
- Bezoar (specifically a trichobezoar)
- Furball
Antonyms
- There is no direct antonym, as it is a specific object. Opposing concepts might be "clear digestive tract" or "smooth passage."
Related Phrases
- To cough/hack up a hairball: The common action associated with expelling a hairball.
- I heard the cat hacking up a hairball in the other room.
- Hairball remedy: Refers to commercial products (like gels or treats) designed to help animals pass hairballs through their digestive system.
Noun
- a compact mass of hair that forms in the alimentary canal (especially in the stomach of animals as a result of licking fur)