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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
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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 14 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
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