bruise
bruise /br'uːz/ (bruises bruising bruised)
1 [N-COUNT]
A bruise is an injury which appears as a purple mark on your body, although the skin is not broken.
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?...
She was treated for cuts and bruises.
2 [VERB] V n, V adv
If you bruise a part of your body, a bruise appears on it, for example because something hits you. If you bruise easily, bruises appear when something hits you only slightly.
I had only bruised my knee...
Some people bruise more easily than others.
● bruised [ADJ]
I escaped with severely bruised legs.
3 [VERB] V n, V-ed, V adv, also V
If a fruit, vegetable, or plant bruises or is bruised, it is damaged by being handled roughly, making a mark on the skin.
Choose a warm, dry day to cut them off the plants, being careful not to bruise them.
...bruised tomatoes and cucumbers...
Be sure to store them carefully as they bruise easily.
[N-COUNT]
Bruise is also a noun.
...bruises on the fruit's skin.
4 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If you are bruised by an unpleasant experience, it makes you feel unhappy or upset.
The government will be severely bruised by yesterday's events...
● bruising [ADJ] usu ADJ n
...the bruising experience of near-bankruptcy.
1 [N-COUNT]
A bruise is an injury which appears as a purple mark on your body, although the skin is not broken.
How did you get that bruise on your cheek?...
She was treated for cuts and bruises.
2 [VERB] V n, V adv
If you bruise a part of your body, a bruise appears on it, for example because something hits you. If you bruise easily, bruises appear when something hits you only slightly.
I had only bruised my knee...
Some people bruise more easily than others.
● bruised [ADJ]
I escaped with severely bruised legs.
3 [VERB] V n, V-ed, V adv, also V
If a fruit, vegetable, or plant bruises or is bruised, it is damaged by being handled roughly, making a mark on the skin.
Choose a warm, dry day to cut them off the plants, being careful not to bruise them.
...bruised tomatoes and cucumbers...
Be sure to store them carefully as they bruise easily.
[N-COUNT]
Bruise is also a noun.
...bruises on the fruit's skin.
4 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If you are bruised by an unpleasant experience, it makes you feel unhappy or upset.
The government will be severely bruised by yesterday's events...
● bruising [ADJ] usu ADJ n
...the bruising experience of near-bankruptcy.