Whisker - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A whisker is a stiff hair growing on the face or body of an animal, such as a cat or mouse, used for sensing surroundings. It can also refer to a very small distance or amount.
Definition:
A stiff hair growing from the face or snout of an animal, like a cat or mouse.
Synonyms:
bristle, hair, vibrissa
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
smoothness, baldness
Common Collocations:
cat whiskers, whisker growth, whisker sensitivity
Derivatives:
whiskered, whiskery
Usage Tips:
Use "whisker" to describe animal facial hairs; avoid for human facial hair unless poetic.
Common Phrases:
by a whisker, cat's whiskers, not by a whisker
Etymology:
From Middle English "wisker," related to "whisk," meaning something that sweeps or moves quickly.
Examples:
- 1. The cat's long whiskers twitched as it sniffed the air.
- 2. He missed the target by a whisker in the competition.
- 3. Mouse whiskers are highly sensitive to touch and movement.
- 4. She trimmed her dog’s overgrown whiskers carefully with scissors.