Hairball

Pronunciation: /hɛrbɔl/

Definitions of hairball

noun a compact mass of hair that forms in the stomach of some animals, especially cats, as a result of licking their fur

Example Sentences

A1 My cat often coughs up hairballs.

A2 I had to clean up a hairball that my cat left on the carpet.

B1 The vet recommended a special diet to prevent hairballs in cats.

B2 Regular grooming can help reduce the frequency of hairballs in long-haired cats.

C1 The hairball caused a blockage in the cat's digestive system, requiring surgery.

C2 The hairball was so large that it had to be surgically removed from the cat's stomach.

Examples of hairball in a Sentence

formal The veterinarian advised the cat owner to monitor the cat's diet to prevent hairball formation.

informal My cat keeps coughing up hairballs, it's so gross!

slang I swear my cat is a hairball factory, I find them all over the house.

figurative The project was a hairball of complexity, requiring careful untangling to move forward.

Grammatical Forms of hairball

• plural: hairballs
• comparative: more hairball
• superlative: most hairball
• present tense: hairball
• future tense: will hairball
• perfect tense: has hairballed
• continuous tense: is hairballing
• singular: hairball
• positive degree: hairball
• infinitive: to hairball
• gerund: hairballing
• participle: hairballed

Origin and Evolution of hairball

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'hairball' originated from the combination of the words 'hair' and 'ball', referring to a mass of hair that forms in the digestive tract of animals.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe the phenomenon in animals, 'hairball' has evolved to also refer to a similar mass of hair that forms in the human body, particularly in the context of health issues such as trichobezoars.