| Bruise 1. (v. t.) To injure, as by a blow or collision, without laceration; to contuse; as, to bruise one's finger with a hammer; to bruise the bark of a tree with a stone; to bruise an apple by letting it fall. 2. (v. t.) To break; as in a mortar; to bray, as minerals, roots, etc.; to crush. 3. (v. i.) To fight with the fists; to box. 4. (n.) An injury to the flesh of animals, or to plants, fruit, etc., with a blunt or heavy instrument, or by collision with some other body; a contusion; as, a bruise on the head; bruises on fruit. Thesaurus Entries abrasion, abuse, aggrieve, anguish, barb the dart, bash, batter, beat, beat up, black, black eye, black-and-blue mark, blemish, blotch, boo-boo, buffet, bump, bung, bung up, contuse, contusion, cut, cut up, damage, discolor, discoloration, discolorment, do violence to, do wrong by, do wrong to, ecchymosis, grieve, harm, hurt, hurt the feelings, ill-treat, ill-use, injure, injury, knock about, maltreat, manhandle, mark, mash, maul, mishandle, mistreat, molest, mouse, outrage, pain, pierce, pound, prick, pulp, rough, rough up, savage, scrape, scratch, shiner, spot, squash, stab, sting, thrash soundly, twist the knife, welt, wound |