bruise

  1. Verb.  (transitive) To strike (a person), originally with something flat or heavy, but now specifically in such a way as to discolour the skin without breaking it.
  2. Verb.  (transitive) To damage the skin of (fruit), in an analogous way.
  3. Verb.  (intransitive) Of fruit, to gain bruises through being handled roughly.
  4. Verb.  (intransitive, medicine) To bruise easily.
  5. Noun.  (medicine) A purplish mark on the skin due to leakage of blood from capillaries under the surface that have been damaged by a blow.
  6. Noun.  A dark mark on fruit caused by a blow to its surface.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.