bristle

IPA/ˈbrɪsl/

KK[brˈɪsəl]IPA/ˈbrɪsl/

bristlesingular
bristlesplural

1.nounB1

Definition

A short, thick, stiff hair that grows on the body of certain animals, such as pigs, wild boars, or dogs, and feels rough when you touch it.

Example

Adina noticed a long bristle on the sofa after their dog shook itself dry.

William touched the wild boar's back and felt each bristle stand up under his palm.

collocation: bristle stand up (of hair/fur)

Common collocations

thick bristle
dark bristle
stiff bristle
bristle on (the back / jaw / neck)

Synonyms

hair
general term for any filament that grows on skin; bristle is thicker and stiffer than ordinary hair
bristle hair
technical term for a stiff hair on an animal, used in biology
whisker
a long, sensitive bristle near the mouth of some animals; refers to a specific type, not all body bristles

Antonyms

down
soft, fine hair or feathers — the opposite texture from a bristle

Usage Note

The singular 'bristle' refers to one individual hair. The plural 'bristles' is far more common when describing an animal's coat.

Common Mistakes

I brushed the dog's bristle.

I brushed the dog's bristles.

'bristle' is countable; use the plural when referring to the whole coat.

2.nounA2

Definition

Each of the firm, rigid strands — made from animal hair, plastic, or metal wire — that are fixed onto a brush so it can be used for cleaning, painting, or grooming.

Example

Bao rinsed the paintbrush until all the blue colour left the bristles.

Tanvi threw away her toothbrush because the bristles were bent and worn out.

collocation: bristles bent / worn out (toothbrush)

Common collocations

soft bristles
natural bristles
synthetic bristles
bristles of a brush
bristles wear out

Synonyms

fibre
can replace 'bristle' when the brush is synthetic; more general, less specific to stiffness
hair
used for brushes made from animal hair (e.g. 'badger hair brush'); overlaps but 'hair' sounds softer
wire
metal bristles in wire brushes; distinct in material and use

IPA/ˈbrɪs.əl/

KK[brˈɪsəl]IPA/ˈbrɪs.əl/

bristlepresent simple I / you / we / they
bristles3rd person singular
bristling-ing form
bristledpast simple

1.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

When hair or fur rises and stands up stiffly because the person or animal is frightened, cold, or very excited — for example, a cat's fur bristling when it sees a dog.

Example

Defne felt the hairs on her arms bristle when the cold wind blew through the window.

pattern: hairs on [body part] + bristle + cause (wind / cold / fear)

When Kemi heard a loud crash, the hair on the back of her neck bristled with fear.

Common collocations

fur bristles
hair bristles
bristle with fear
bristle at the sound

Synonyms

stand on end
less formal; used mostly for human hair in fear or shock
puff up
used for birds or animals fluffing feathers or fur; less specific to stiffness
ruffle up
implies movement, not just standing stiff; a bristled coat is already standing, not being moved

Antonyms

lie flat
the normal resting state of hair or fur

Grammar Patterns

bristle + with [cause]

bristle + at [stimulus]

Usage Note

The subject is usually hair, fur, or a person's own body hair. The cause (fear, cold, excitement) is often introduced by 'with', 'at', or 'because of'. This sense is frequently used with animals (cats, dogs, wild boars).

Common Mistakes

She bristled her hair up.

Her hair bristled up.

this sense is intransitive; you cannot 'bristle' something.

2.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

To become suddenly angry or upset when someone criticises you, insults you, or makes a suggestion that seems unfair — the frustration often shows immediately in your face or posture.

Example

The manager bristled when a junior staff member questioned his decision at the meeting.

pattern: [person] bristled when [someone] + questioned / criticised

Dad still bristles every time someone mentions the dent he made in the garage door.

Common collocations

bristle at criticism
bristle with anger
bristle at the suggestion
bristle visibly

Synonyms

bridle
very similar meaning but less common and more literary; suggests a visible stiffening of posture
take offence
more neutral; focuses on the feeling rather than the visible reaction
seethe
implies silent, suppressed anger; bristle often includes a visible or audible reaction

Antonyms

accept
to receive criticism or a suggestion calmly and willingly

Grammar Patterns

bristle + at [stimulus]

bristle + with [emotion]

bristle + when [clause]

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (HAIR STAND UP): here the subject is a person or a group, not hair. The anger is triggered by a specific remark, question, or action introduced by 'at'. Common in formal and written English to describe defensive reactions.

Common Mistakes

She bristled him with her comment.

She bristled at his comment.

'bristle' is intransitive; the comment causes the reaction, not the object.

3.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

To be covered or filled with a large number of things, especially thin, pointed, or dangerous items that make the surface look rough and spiky.

Example

The old fence bristled with rusty nails that stuck out from every wooden board.

pattern: [object] bristles with [sharp / spiky items]

During winter the forest floor bristles with dry twigs and broken branches.

Common collocations

bristle with weapons
bristle with antennas
bristle with nails
bristle with equipment

Synonyms

be thick with
less visual; describes density without implying spikiness
be studded with
suggests raised items arranged decoratively, not necessarily sharp or dangerous
bristling with
the same verb in participle form used as an adjective; more dynamic feeling

Antonyms

be bare of
having nothing on the surface

Grammar Patterns

bristle with + [noun phrase]

Usage Note

Almost always used in the pattern '[subject] bristles with [objects]'. The subject is typically an inanimate thing or a surface, not a person. Unlike sense 1, this sense describes a state (being covered) rather than a movement of hair standing up.

Common Mistakes

The wall bristled of nails.

The wall bristled with nails.

always use 'with', not 'of', after 'bristle' in this sense.

Word family

bristly
adjectiveB2
bristled
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words refer to thin, elongated parts of a brush, but they differ in material and stiffness. 'Bristle' specifically means the short, stiff, upright part — whether natural (animal hair) or synthetic (plastic). 'Fibre' is a broader term for any thread-like material and is commonly used for synthetic brush materials; it does not imply stiffness the way 'bristle' does. 'Hair' can describe a brush made from animal fur (e.g. 'badger-hair brush'), but it suggests softness, so it is not used for stiff scrubbing brushes. 'Strand' focuses on the single thin piece in isolation, often used when talking about individual parts (e.g. 'a strand of the brush came loose'), but it does not refer to the brush's material as a whole. For example: 'A paintbrush with stiff nylon bristles' sounds normal; 'paintbrush with stiff nylon fibres' sounds slightly technical; 'nylon hair' sounds odd because hair implies natural softness.

bristle ↗fibre ↗hair ↗strand ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

bristle (industry)
bristle brush

Prepositions

bristle with
bristle at

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'bristle' comes from Middle English 'bristil', which developed from Old English 'byrst' (meaning a stiff hair). It is related to the German word 'Borste' (bristle) and the Dutch word 'borstel' (brush). The verb sense — meaning to react with anger or have one's hair stand up — emerged later, building on the image of an animal's fur rising up when it feels threatened.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above Verb

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bristle

bristle — noun

1. A short, thick, stiff hair that grows on the body of certain animals, such as pi

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. Each of the firm, rigid strands — made from animal hair, plastic, or metal wire

bristle — verb

1. When hair or fur rises and stands up stiffly because the person or animal is fri

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. To become suddenly angry or upset when someone criticises you, insults you, or m

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. To be covered or filled with a large number of things, especially thin, pointed,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Prepositions

Etymology

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