Library / English Dictionary

BRIDLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of restraining power or action or limiting excess

Example:

his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper

Synonyms:

bridle; check; curb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

restraint (the act of controlling by restraining someone or something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

headgear (stable gear consisting of any part of a harness that fits about the horse's head)

Meronyms (parts of "bridle"):

bit (piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding)

cheekpiece (either of two straps of a bridle that connect the bit to the headpiece)

headpiece; headstall (the band that is the part of a bridle that fits around a horse's head)

noseband; nosepiece (a strap that is the part of a bridle that goes over the animal's nose)

rein (one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse)

Holonyms ("bridle" is a part of...):

harness (stable gear consisting of an arrangement of leather straps fitted to a draft animal so that it can be attached to and pull a cart)

Derivation:

bridle (respond to the reins, as of horses)

bridle (put a bridle on)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Respond to the reins, as of horses

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

answer; reply; respond (react verbally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

bridle (headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put a bridle on

Example:

bridle horses

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

cumber; encumber; restrain (restrict (someone or something) so as to make free movement difficult)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "bridle"):

snaffle (fit or restrain with a snaffle)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

unbridle (remove the bridle from (a horse or mule))

Derivation:

bridle (headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Anger or take offense

Example:

She bridled at his suggestion to elope

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

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

anger; see red (become angry)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Credits

 Context examples: 

Amy bridled up at this insult, and determined to find out the secret, if she teased for an hour.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

They are strangers to bridle or saddle; they live in great amity with me and friendship to each other.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

However, the horseman got off, took the silver, helped Hans up, gave him the bridle into one hand and the whip into the other, and said, When you want to go very fast, smack your lips loudly together, and cry Jip!

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

A gentleman on horseback came to the gate, and leading his horse into the little court, with the bridle over his arm, as if he were quite at home, tied him to a ring in the empty coach-house wall, and came into the breakfast parlour, whip in hand.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Alleyne, you will come with me, and lead a spare horse by the bridle.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"How is Mrs. Reed?" I asked soon, looking calmly at Georgiana, who thought fit to bridle at the direct address, as if it were an unexpected liberty.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She was obliged to walk carefully, for she had on high-heeled shoes, and, as Laurie told Jo afterward, it was a comical sight to see her mince along in her gay suit, with Polly sidling and bridling just behind her, imitating her as well as he could, and occasionally stopping to laugh or exclaim, Ain't we fine?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The emperor was already descended from the tower, and advancing on horseback towards me, which had like to have cost him dear; for the beast, though very well trained, yet wholly unused to such a sight, which appeared as if a mountain moved before him, reared up on its hinder feet: but that prince, who is an excellent horseman, kept his seat, till his attendants ran in, and held the bridle, while his majesty had time to dismount.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Lead him off! and I saw, from behind my aunt, a sort of hurried battle-piece, in which the donkey stood resisting everybody, with all his four legs planted different ways, while Janet tried to pull him round by the bridle, Mr. Murdstone tried to lead him on, Miss Murdstone struck at Janet with a parasol, and several boys, who had come to see the engagement, shouted vigorously.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“It is well,” said he, and with a shake of the bridle rode on down the woodland path.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)