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
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.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hair ball was in 1712

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!