wart

[wawrt]

noun

1. a small, often hard, abnormal elevation on the skin, usually caused by a papomavirus.

2. any small protuberance, as on the surface of certain plants, the skin of certain animals, etc.

3. any unattractive detrimental feature or aspect.

   The biography presents the full story of the prime minister's political career, warts and all.

4. venereal wart.

wart

/ wɔːt /

noun

1. Also called: verruca. pathol any firm abnormal elevation of the skin caused by a virus

2. botany a small rounded outgrowth

3. with all blemishes evident

wart

1. A small growth on the skin caused by a virus, occurring typically on the hands or feet.

2. A similar growth on a plant, especially one caused by a fungal disease.

Other Word Forms

• warted adjective
• wartless adjective
• wartlike adjective
• warty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wart¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English wearte; cognate with German Warze, Old Norse varta; akin to Latin verrūca “wart”

Word History and Origins

Origin of wart¹

Old English weart ( e ); related to Old High German warza, Old Norse varta

Example Sentences

Our cities remain rich places, warts and all.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I thought I showed them in a good light but I guess they felt that I showed too many of the warts and not enough of the clear skin.”

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And though the book has its shortcomings, he rightly sees the movie as a kind of passkey into the history of the first half-century of Hollywood itself, warts and all.

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He was a dad who was different than mine, certainly a lot wilder, and he was someone who wasn’t afraid to show warts and all, including his addiction issues.

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Having spent nearly 50 years telling America’s stories, warts and all, Ken Burns knows better than to traffic in the reassurance business.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• blemish 
• mole