WHISKER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does whisker mean? 

• WHISKER (noun)
  The noun WHISKER has 2 senses:

1. a very small distance or space

2. a long stiff hair growing from the snout or brow of most mammals as e.g. a cat

  Familiarity information: WHISKER used as a noun is rare.

• WHISKER (verb)
  The verb WHISKER has 1 sense:

1. furnish with whiskers

  Familiarity information: WHISKER used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WHISKER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A very small distance or space

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

hair; hair's-breadth; hairsbreadth; whisker

Context example:

they lost the election by a whisker

Hypernyms ("whisker" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A long stiff hair growing from the snout or brow of most mammals as e.g. a cat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

sensory hair; vibrissa; whisker

Hypernyms ("whisker" is a kind of...):

hair (a filamentous projection or process on an organism)

Derivation:

whisker (furnish with whiskers)

whiskery (having hair on the cheeks and chin)

• WHISKER (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Furnish with whiskers

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

bewhisker; whisker

Context example:

a whiskered jersey

Hypernyms (to "whisker" is one way to...):

furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

whisker (a long stiff hair growing from the snout or brow of most mammals as e.g. a cat)

 Context examples 

The beard, forehead hair and whiskers protect the face.

(German Wirehaired Pointer, NCI Thesaurus)

His hair and whiskers were blacker and thicker, looked at so near, than even I had given them credit for being.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

On the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to the Tin Woodman and said: Oz has sent for you. Follow me.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

There’s Jaheel Brenton, with the whiskers.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mr. Eshton, the magistrate of the district, is gentleman-like: his hair is quite white, his eyebrows and whiskers still dark, which gives him something of the appearance of a "pere noble de theatre."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Both are tall fellows with whiskers, Fred handsome in the English style, and Frank much better, for he only limps slightly, and uses no crutches.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It has a long head with abundant whiskers, beard and eyebrows.

(Kerry Blue Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

He had a stern, square face, with bushy side whiskers and a very questioning eye.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Giant Schnauzer is a large, compact dog with bushy eyebrows, whiskers and a beard.

(Giant Schnauzer, NCI Thesaurus)

With a snarl of contempt he turned upon his heel, and I saw his curved back and white side-whiskers disappear among the throng.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)