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

Explanation

A blister is a fluid-filled bubble people get where something rubs or burns the skin. Common causes are wearing fancy new shoes, playing sports, and trying to cook bananas flambé. Having a blister is no fun. A blister is a round raised area caused by repeated friction or rubbing. A second-degree burn can also cause a blister. A blister isn’t always a human problem. Plants can get blisters, and sometimes air bubbles on the surface of a painted wall or a shellacked table are called blisters. The verb blister means to form a blister. The Old French root word is blestre, "lump or bump."

Example Sentences

I’d let them blister and slump just slightly at the edges.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

Radar data from inside the ice shows what appears to be a blister beneath the surface, pushing the glacier upward at that location.

From Science Daily • Jan. 5, 2026

The plant produces blister copper, which contains almost entirely copper with 3% of other precious metals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025

A packaging mix-up led to a number of blister packs carrying 24 inactive pills, instead of 24 hormone-containing active pills.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2024

Pausing a second, Bowker poured a trickle of beer onto his blister and licked at it.

From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

Related Words

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