herpes

[ hur-peez ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. any of several diseases caused by herpesvirus, characterized by eruption of blisters on the skin or mucous membranes. Compare chickenpox, genital herpes, oral herpes, shingles.
2. herpesvirus.

herpes

/ ˈhɜːpiːz /

noun

1. See genital herpes
   any of several inflammatory diseases of the skin, esp herpes simplex, characterized by the formation of small watery blisters See also genital herpes

herpes

/ hûr′pēz /

1. Any of several infections caused by the herpes simplex virus of the genus Simplexvirus or by the varicella-zoster virus, a herpes virus of the genus Varicellavirus. Herpes infections are characterized by painful blisters on the skin or a mucous membrane and are highly contagious. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. Varicella-zoster infection is also called shingles.

herpes

1. A group of related diseases and the viruses that cause them. These diseases are marked by the development of blisterlike sores on the skin or mucous membranes of the body. The herpes virus may invade the mouth region, producing fever blisters or cold sores, or may cause a sexually transmitted disease in which the painful sores appear on the genitals . Chicken pox is another disease caused by a herpes virus.

Notes

After an infection, the virus remains dormant and may return at a later time. Shingles, for example, is a recurrence of the chicken pox virus, and outbreaks of genital herpes recur over time.

Word History and Origins

Origin of herpes¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from New Latin: “cutaneous eruption,” from Greek hérpēs, literally, “a creeping” (derivative of hérpein “to creep, spread”); cognate with Latin serpēns serpent

Word History and Origins

Origin of herpes¹

C17: via Latin from Greek: a creeping, from herpein to creep

Example Sentences

Pace also accused Kelly of beating her, choking her, sexually assaulting her and knowingly giving her herpes — a claim prosecutors later backed by calling Kelly’s personal physician to discuss his patient’s history of treatment for herpes.

From Washington Post

Enveloped viruses such as coronaviruses and herpes viruses encode a structure on their surface that each virus uses to gain entry into a cell.

From No Straight News

Once infected with a herpes virus, you are infected for life.

From No Straight News

Most importantly, communicate with potential partners, love yourself, and know that life with herpes doesn’t have to mean a life without love.

From Essence.com

Shame, fear, confusion, and assumptions about herpes is due to misinformation and a general lack of knowledge.

From Essence.com

Macaques, a popular exotic pet, carries Herpes B, which has a 70 percent mortality rate on humans, Leahy said.

From The Daily Beast

Herpes virus, adenovirus and many others have been studied against a wide variety of cancers; many trials are ongoing.

From The Daily Beast

Herpes facialis is often observed in association with colds and febrile and lung diseases.

From Project Gutenberg

Shingles, shing′glz, n. popular name for the disease Herpes zoster.

From Project Gutenberg

Herpes of the lips sometimes occurs in the commencement of the disease.

From Project Gutenberg

Herpes consists of gregarious spreading excoriations, which are succeeded by branny scales or scabs.

From Project Gutenberg

Herpes has been described in connection with both adult and infantile scurvy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• AIDS
• gonorrhea
• syphilis
• the clap
• venereal disease