-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
hair ball
noun
: a compact mass of hair formed in the stomach especially of a shedding animal (such as a cat) that cleanses its coat by licking
Examples of hair ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The personal histories of Khan’s characters are so enmeshed that tracing back their connections is like trying to untangle a hair ball.
—Maureen Corrigan, miamiherald, 22 Feb. 2018
That means no plucking hair balls out of the intake, and no worry of the vacuum malfunctioning mid-cycle.
—Samantha Gordon, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2017
What drives the critics wild is her personal writing and its nonstop examination of self, one damn hair ball at a time.
—Caitlin Flanagan, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2017
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1712, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near hair ball
Cite this Entry
“Hair ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hair%20ball. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
hair ball
noun
: a compact mass of hair formed in the stomach especially of a shedding animal (as a cat) that cleanses its coat by licking
called also trichobezoar
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share