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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
bruise noun 1 an area of skin discoloration and swelling caused by the leakage of blood from damaged blood vessels following injury. Technical equivalent contusion. 2 a similar injury to a fruit or plant, shown as a soft discoloured area. verb (bruised, bruising) 1 to mark and discolour (the surface of the skin or of a fruit, etc) in this way. 2 intrans to develop bruises I bruise easily. 3 tr & intr to hurt or be hurt emotionally or mentally. 4 cookery, etc to crush or pound (eg berries, leaves, or other foods), generally to release the juices or flavour. bruised adj.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon brysan to crush, merged with French bruisier to break.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
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Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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