blister

American  

[blis-ter] / ˈblɪs tər /

noun

1. a thin vesicle on the skin, containing watery matter or serum, as from a burn or other injury.

2. any similar swelling, as an air bubble in a coat of paint.

3. a relatively large bubble occurring in glass during blowing.

4. Military. a transparent bulge or dome on the fuselage of an airplane, usually for mounting a gun.

5. Photography. a bubble of air formed where the emulsion has separated from the base of a film, as because of defective processing.

6. a dome or skylight on a building.

7. the moving bubble in a spirit level.

8. a small blisterlike covering of plastic, usually affixed to a piece of cardboard and containing a small item, as a pen, bolt, or medicinal tablet.

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verb (used with object)

1. to raise a blister or blisters on.

   These new shoes blistered my feet.

2. to criticize or rebuke severely.

   The boss blistered his assistant in front of the whole office.

3. to beat or thrash; punish severely.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or rise as a blister or blisters; become blistered.

blister British  

/ ˈblɪstə /

noun

1. a small bubble-like elevation of the skin filled with serum, produced as a reaction to a burn, mechanical irritation, etc

2. a swelling containing air or liquid, as on a painted surface

3. a transparent dome or any bulge on the fuselage of an aircraft, such as one used for observation

4. slang an irritating person

5. slang a rebuke

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verb

1. to have or cause to have blisters

2. (tr) to attack verbally with great scorn or sarcasm

Other Word Forms

• blistered adjective
• blistery adjective
• reblister verb
• unblistered adjective

Etymology

Origin of blister

1250–1300; Middle English blister, blester < Old Norse blǣstri, dative of blāstr swelling. See blast, blow ²

Example Sentences

Patients experience severe pain, burning and blistering when they spend even a few minutes in the sun, even with sunscreen.

From The Wall Street Journal

The quarterly reading was a sharp slowdown from the summer’s blistering 4.4% rate.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite their blistering form, Detroit -- wholly reconstructed after finishing rock-bottom of the Eastern Conference just two years ago -- are still few pundits' top pick to win the title.

From Barron's

Dry the chickpeas like you mean it—roll them in a towel, let them sit a minute, roll again—because moisture is the enemy of blistering.

From Salon

Describing the moment she saw her fatally injured mother at the hospital, she said: "She was black, her eyes were black. She was burned and blistered. I couldn't love her or hug her."

From BBC

Related Words

• abscess
• cyst
• pimple
• sore
• ulcer
• welt