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
Examples of whisker in a Sentence
He won the race by a whisker.
Recent Examples on the Web
This impressive opening shot lasts more than four minutes and simply wouldn’t be possible in live action for as many reasons as a cat has whiskers.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 June 2024
His whiskers move a little bit, and his eyes widen.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
Hence, a deep-learning system can identify a cat without having to be told which specific features to look for, such as whiskers or pointy ears.
—Kenneth Neil Cukier, Foreign Affairs, 11 June 2019
The mouse has silver whiskers and chews on strands of gold straw.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for whisker 
Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 June 2024
His whiskers move a little bit, and his eyes widen.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
Hence, a deep-learning system can identify a cat without having to be told which specific features to look for, such as whiskers or pointy ears.
—Kenneth Neil Cukier, Foreign Affairs, 11 June 2019
The mouse has silver whiskers and chews on strands of gold straw.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for whisker
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whisker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Whisker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whisker. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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