bridle

UK: /ˈbraɪd^əl/ US: /ˈbraɪdəl/ ,(brīd′l)

Inflections of 'bridle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

bridles

v 3rd person singular

bridling

v pres p

bridled

v past

bridled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bri•dle /ˈbraɪdəl/   n., v., -dled, -dling. 
n. [countable]

1. Dog and Cat Breeds part of the harness of a horse, made up of a leather band around the head, bit, and reins:
   They led their horses around by the bridles.
2. anything that holds back or restrains:
   Put a bridle on your temper.

v. 

3. to put a bridle on:
   [~ + object] They bridled the horses.
4. to control or hold back;
   curb:
   [~ + object] You've got to bridle your temper.
5. to draw up the head and draw in the chin, so as to show contempt or resentment: [~ + at + object]
   He bridled at the suggestion that he should work like a common person.
   [used with quotations]
   She bridled, ``I refuse to go along with such an outrageous scheme.''

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bri•dle  (brīd′l), n., v., -dled, -dling. 
n. 

1. part of the tack or harness of a horse, consisting usually of a headstall, bit, and reins.
2. anything that restrains or curbs:
   His common sense is a bridle to his quick temper.
3. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] a link, flange, or other attachment for limiting the movement of any part of a machine.
4. Nautical a rope or chain secured at both ends to an object to be held, lifted, or towed, and itself held or lifted by a rope or chain secured at its center.
5. a raising up of the head, as in disdain.

v.t. 

6. to put a bridle on.
7. to control or hold back;
   restrain;
   curb.

v.i. 

8. to draw up the head and draw in the chin, as in disdain or resentment.

• bef. 900; Middle English bridel, Old English brīdel for brigdels, equivalent. to brigd- (variant stem of bregdan to braid¹) + -els noun, nominal suffix; akin to Dutch breidel, Old High German brittel

bri′dle•less, adj. 
bri′dler, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. governor.
• 2, 7. check.
• 7. govern, constrain, inhibit, restrict, limit.
• 8. bristle.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bridle / ˈbraɪd^əl/ noun

1. a headgear for a horse, etc, consisting of a series of buckled straps and a metal mouthpiece (bit) by which the animal is controlled through the reins
2. something that curbs or restrains; check
3. a Y-shaped cable, rope, or chain, used for holding, towing, etc

verb

1. (transitive) to put a bridle on (a horse, mule, etc)
2. (transitive) to restrain; curb: he bridled his rage
3. (intransitive) often followed by at: to show anger, scorn, or indignation

Etymology: Old English brigdels; related to bregdan to braid¹, Old High German brittil, Middle Low German breidel