whisker

noun

whis·​ker ˈ(h)wi-skər 

1

a

: a hair of the beard

b whiskers plural

(1)

archaic : mustache

(2)

: the part of the beard growing on the sides of the face or on the chin

c

: hairbreadth

lost the race by a whisker

2

: one of the long projecting hairs or bristles growing near the mouth of an animal (such as a cat or bird)

3

: an outrigger extending on each side of the bowsprit to spread the jib and flying jib guys

—usually used in plural

4

a

: a shred or filament resembling a whisker

b

: a thin hairlike crystal (as of sapphire or copper) of exceptional mechanical strength used especially to reinforce composite structural material

whiskered

ˈ(h)wi-skərd 

adjective

whiskery

ˈ(h)wi-sk(ə-)rē 

adjective

Examples of whisker in a Sentence

He won the race by a whisker.

Recent Examples on the Web

Upton's winning entry wore a rainbow skirt, a neon green shirt, a flowery cardigan, sparkly teal shoes and a knit cap imprinted with the nose and whiskers of a cat. —Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 26 Nov. 2024

The cub also has two rows of whiskers on the upper lip and elongated hair that comes from the corners of the mouth. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024

Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news A keeper at the Oklahoma City Zoo one day noticed that Eko, a Sumatran tiger, kept rubbing his face on the side of the fence, breaking all his whiskers. —Jen McCaffery, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024

But upon further review, after a coach’s challenge by Edmonton, Foligno was deemed offside by a whisker. —Michael Russo, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

singular of whiskers mustache, from whisk entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing whisker

• within a whisker of

Kids Definition

whisker

noun

whis·​ker ˈhwis-kər 

ˈwis-

1

a

: a hair of the beard

b

plural : the part of the beard growing on the sides of the face or on the chin

2

: one of the long hairs or bristles growing near the mouth of an animal (as a cat or mouse)

whiskered

-kərd 

adjective