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Definition of bristle verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

bristle

verb
 
/ˈbrɪsl/
 
/ˈbrɪsl/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they bristle
 
/ˈbrɪsl/
 
/ˈbrɪsl/
he / she / it bristles
 
/ˈbrɪslz/
 
/ˈbrɪslz/
past simple bristled
 
/ˈbrɪsld/
 
/ˈbrɪsld/
past participle bristled
 
/ˈbrɪsld/
 
/ˈbrɪsld/
-ing form bristling
 
/ˈbrɪslɪŋ/
 
/ˈbrɪslɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
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  1. [intransitive] bristle (with something) (at something) to suddenly become very annoyed or offended at what somebody says or does
    • His lies made her bristle with rage.
    Topics Feelingsc2
  2. [intransitive] (of an animal’s fur) to stand up on the back and neck because the animal is frightened or angry
  3. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old English byrst (of Germanic origin, related to German Borste) + -le.
See bristle in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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