blister

[ blis-ter ]

/ ˈblɪs tər /

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See synonyms for: blister / blistered / blistering on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

a relatively large bubble occurring in glass during blowing.

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

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

a dome or skylight on a building.

the moving bubble in a spirit level.

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.

verb (used with object)

to raise a blister or blisters on: These new shoes blistered my feet.

to criticize or rebuke severely: The boss blistered his assistant in front of the whole office.

to beat or thrash; punish severely.

verb (used without object)

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

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Origin of blister

1250–1300; Middle English blister, blester<Old Norse blǣstri, dative of blāstr swelling. See blast, blow²

OTHER WORDS FROM blister

re·blis·ter, verbun·blis·tered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use blister in a sentence

With fire boots like these, it’s often said that it’s not the boot that gets broken in but your foot, so a durable pair of socks that fit well is sometimes just as important as the boot itself, especially when it comes to avoiding blisters.
The Durable Gear One Wildland Firefighter Swears By|Amanda Monthei|October 28, 2020|Outside Online
Photographs leaked from inside Zeinhom morgue show charred and blistered bodies strewn on the floor.
Egypt Targets ‘Terrorists’ in Ongoing Violence|Sophia Jones|August 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Grill or broil, turning occasionally, until the skins are black and blistered.
Into the Heart of Turkey|Sophie Menin|September 28, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Jean Potin keeps up a running flow of talk as he conducts his visitor down the long bare passages, past blistered yellow doors.
Uncanny Tales|Various

So, when he sat shoeless, resting his blistered feet on Locker's porch, he was ready to make his decision.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
The nurse who handed her the cup noticed a dark red sediment at the bottom, and on tasting it found her tongue blistered!
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
He blistered Arbuthnot with abuse, swung from the newspaper office, and barged mightily down Fleet Street, a disturber of traffic.
Jaffery|William J. Locke
Lay pretty long, and by lying with my sheet upon my lip, as I have of old observed it, my upper lip was blistered in the morning.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete|Samuel Pepys

British Dictionary definitions for blister

blister

/ (ˈblɪstə) /

noun

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

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

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

slang an irritating person

NZ slang a rebuke

verb

to have or cause to have blisters

(tr) to attack verbally with great scorn or sarcasm

Derived forms of blister

blistered, adjectiveblistery, adjective

Word Origin for blister

C13: from Old French blestre, probably from Middle Dutch bluyster blister; see blast

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

blister

Origin of blister

OTHER WORDS FROM blister

Words related to blister

How to use blister in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for blister

Derived forms of blister

Word Origin for blister