contusion

Everyday

(medicine) A contusion is a bruise: an injury where the skin is not broken but blood leaks under it, making a dark mark. tree →

In the lessons

It is the doctor's word for a bruise and appears in hospital reports, first-aid books and news («he suffered a contusion»). In science lessons about the body it explains why bruises change colour as they heal. Phrases: «a bone contusion», «cuts and contusions», «minor contusions».

Examples

• The doctor said the dark mark on my knee was only a contusion. tree →
• The footballer suffered a contusion after the hard tackle. tree →
• The X-ray showed no broken bone, just a contusion. tree →
• She had a few cuts and contusions after falling off her bike. tree →
• Put ice on a contusion to stop it swelling. tree →
• A contusion turns purple, then green, then yellow as it heals. tree →

Note

Countable: one contusion, two contusions. Everyday word: bruise. Not the same as concussion (an injury to the brain after a knock on the head) — the two words sound alike.