What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Bruise vs Wound - What's the difference?

bruise | wound |

In transitive terms the difference between bruise and wound

is that bruise is to damage the skin of (fruit), in an analogous way while wound is to hurt (a person's feelings).

bruise

English

(wikipedia bruise)

Alternative forms

* bruize (obsolete)

Verb

(bruis)
  • 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.
  • To damage the skin of (fruit), in an analogous way.
  • Of fruit, to gain bruises through being handled roughly.
    • Bananas bruise easily.
  • To become bruised.
    • I bruise easily.
  • To fight with the fists; to box.
  • * Thackeray
    • Bruising was considered a fine, manly, old English custom.

    Derived terms

    * bruiser * bruising

    Noun

    (en 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.
  • A dark mark on fruit caused by a blow to its surface.

    • Synonyms

    * (medical) ecchymosis, contusion (technical term ) * See also

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs ----

    wound

    English

    Etymology 1

    Noun from (etyl) wund, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An injury, such as a cut, stab, or tear, to a (usually external) part of the body.
  • * 2013 , Phil McNulty, "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23830980]", BBC Sport , 1 September 2013:
    • The visitors were without Wayne Rooney after he suffered a head wound in training, which also keeps him out of England's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Showers of blood / Rained from the wounds of slaughtered Englishmen.
  • * 1883:
    • I went below, and did what I could for my wound ; it pained me a good deal, and still bled freely; but it was neither deep nor dangerous, nor did it greatly gall me when I used my arm.
  • (figuratively) A hurt to a person's feelings, reputation, etc.
    • It took a long time to get over the wound of that insult.
  • An injury to a person by which the skin is divided or its continuity broken.
    • Synonyms
    * (injury) injury, lesion * (sense, something that offends a person's feelings) slight, slur, insult * See also
    Derived terms
    * dirty wound * entry wound * exit wound * flesh wound * rub salt in the wound * suck one's wounds * time heals all wounds

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hurt or injure (someone) by cutting, piercing, or tearing the skin.
    • The police officer wounded the suspect during the fight that ensued.
  • To hurt (a person's feelings).
    • The actor's pride was wounded when the leading role went to his rival.
    Synonyms
    * (injure) hurt, injure * offend

    Etymology 2

    See (Etymology 2)

    Verb

    (head)
  • (wind)
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“[…] Captain Markam had been found lying half-insensible, gagged and bound, on the floor of the sitting-room, his hands and feet tightly pinioned, and a woollen comforter wound closely round his mouth and neck?; whilst Mrs. Markham's jewel-case, containing valuable jewellery and the secret plans of Port Arthur, had disappeared. […]”}} English heteronyms English irregular past participles English irregular simple past forms