1. To stand on end and to become stiff: The hair on the dog's neck bristled as he barked at something which was moving outside.

Electricity can make a person's hair bristle and become stiff.

2. To cause the hair on the back of an animal to go up or to rise: The cat bristled when it saw a dog coming toward it.
3. To react in an angry or offended manner: The author of the book bristled when someone suggested that he plagiarized some of the content.

The actress bristled at the criticism presented in newspaper articles.

4. To abound with sharp stiff thorns or sticks: The path bristled with the thorns of many bushes which caught onto the clothes of the people as they went for their walk.