Definition

Noun: * The involuntary erection of hairs on the skin: A physiological reflex, often causing goosebumps or gooseflesh, typically in response to cold temperatures, strong emotions (such as fear, awe, or excitement), or skin irritation.

Usage and Examples

• As a subject:
  • Horripilation is a vestigial reflex in humans, a leftover from when our ancestors had more body hair.
  • The intense horripilation she felt was a clear sign of how frightened she was.
• As an object:
  • The sudden chill caused an immediate horripilation.
  • Listening to the haunting music sent a wave of horripilation down my spine.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Technical/Medical Context: is the formal medical and scientific term for the phenomenon commonly called "goosebumps" or "goose pimples." It describes the action of the tiny muscles (arrector pili) at the base of each hair follicle contracting.
• Literary Context: The word is often used in literary or descriptive writing to convey a powerful physical reaction to emotion or atmosphere.
  • A sense of profound awe, accompanied by a palpable horripilation, overcame the spectators.

Variants and Related Words

• Horripilate (verb): To cause or experience horripilation.
  • The ghost story was enough to horripilate even the bravest listener.
• Piloerection (noun): A near-synonym used more frequently in biological or zoological contexts.

Synonyms

• Goosebumps
• Goose pimples
• Gooseflesh
• Cutis anserina (technical)

Idioms and Common Phrases

• To have/go/get goosebumps: The common idiomatic expression for experiencing horripilation.
  • That song always gives me goosebumps.
• To make one's hair stand on end: An idiom describing something that causes extreme fear or awe, closely related to the sensation of horripilation.
  • The eerie noise in the dark made her hair stand on end.

Noun

1. reflex erection of hairs of the skin in response to cold or emotional stress or skin irritation