noun / verb
bruise
BROOZ/bruːz/
An injury to tissue without breaking its surface.
He examines the purple bruise spreading across his unbroken forearm skin.
Etymology
The verb meant to crush or injure by a blow, including one that discolors the skin. The noun names the visible mark left by that injury.
In context
… his only really marked feature was a large bruise over the left eyebrow which gave him a faintly dissipated air …
More examples
- Handle the peaches gently because they bruise easily.
- The rejection bruised her confidence for a while.
- I found several small bruises after the soccer match.
Forms
bruise · bruises · bruised · bruising
Similar words
- cut
- Breaks the skin, while a bruise damages tissue beneath an intact surface.