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abscess

[ ab-ses ]
/ ˈæb sɛs /
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See synonyms for: abscess / abscessed on Thesaurus.com
noun Pathology.
a localized collection of pus in the tissues of the body, often accompanied by swelling and inflammation and frequently caused by bacteria.
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Origin of abscess

1535–45; <Latin abscessus a going away, abscess, equivalent to absced-, variant stem of abscēdere to go away, separate off, form an abscess (abs-abs- + cēdere;see cede) + -tus suffix of v. action, with -dt->-ss-

OTHER WORDS FROM abscess

abscessed, adjectiveun·ab·scessed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH abscess

abscess , obsess

Words nearby abscess

abs, Absalom, Absaroka Range, ABS brake, Abscam, abscess, abscind, abscise, abscisic acid, abscissa, abscission
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to abscess

ulcer, carbuncle, boil, pustule

How to use abscess in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abscess

abscess
/ (ˈæbsɛs, -sɪs) /
noun
a localized collection of pus formed as the product of inflammation and usually caused by bacteria
verb
(intr) to form such a collection of pus

Derived forms of abscess

abscessed, adjective

Word Origin for abscess

C16: from Latin abscessus a going away, a throwing off of bad humours, hence an abscess, from abscēdere to go away
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for abscess

abscess
[ ăb′sĕs′ ]
n.
A collection of pus formed by tissue destruction in an inflamed area of a localized infection.
A cavity that is formed by liquefactive necrosis within solid tissue.
v.
To form an abscess.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for abscess

abscess
[ ăb′sĕs′ ]
A localized collection of pus surrounded by infected tissue.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for abscess

abscess
[ (ab-ses) ]

An inflamed area (see inflammation) in the body tissues that is filled with pus.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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