Pronunciation: [bɹˈuːz] (IPA) 
The word "bruise" is spelled with the letters b-r-u-i-s-e. The initial sound is a voiced bilabial plosive 'b'. The following sounds are a diphthong 'r-ʊ' and an unvoiced sibilant 's'. The final letter 'e' is silent, making the vowel sound in "bru" to be pronounced as 'bruʊ'. A bruise is an injury where the skin is discolored or sometimes even broken. It is caused by blunt force trauma to the body.
A bruise is a discoloration or injury to the skin, muscles, or tissues underneath, typically caused by a blow or impact from an external source. It is characterized by a black, blue, or purple patch on the surface of the skin, resulting from damaged blood vessels leaking blood into the surrounding tissue. Often painful to touch, a bruise may also appear swollen, tender, or slightly raised in some cases.
Bruises are commonly caused by trauma, such as accidents, falls, or sports injuries. The impact of force disrupts the integrity of blood vessels, leading to internal bleeding. The body's natural response is to send white blood cells to the area, which leads to inflammation and eventually the visible discoloration associated with a bruise.
The severity of a bruise can vary, ranging from minor superficial discoloration to more serious deep tissue injury. In some instances, particularly with significant trauma, a bruise may be accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or difficulty moving the affected area.
Treatment for bruises usually involves applying ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling and alleviate pain. Rest and elevation of the affected area can aid in recovery. Over time, the body gradually absorbs the blood that has leaked into the tissues, causing the bruise to fade and eventually disappear.
While bruises typically heal on their own without complications, it is important to seek medical attention if a bruise is associated with severe pain, immobility, or if it occurs without any apparent cause.
• An injury on the flesh by its being crushed with a heavy or blunt substance; a contusion.
• To crush or hurt by pressure; to pound or reduce to coarse powder, as minerals or grain.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "bruise" has evolved from the Middle English word "brysen" which meant "to violently crush" or "to injure". This Middle English term originated from the Old English word "brysan" or "bryse" which meant "to crush" or "to break into pieces". It is thought to be of Germanic origin, ultimately deriving from the Proto-Germanic word "*brusjanan" meaning "to crush" or "to smash". This Proto-Germanic term is related to the Old High German word "brusan" and the Old Norse word "brjóta". The word "bruise" initially referred to the discoloration or injury caused by the breaking of blood vessels beneath the skin.
