cold sore

American  

noun

1. a vesicular eruption on the face, usually on or near the mouth, often accompanying a cold or a febrile condition; herpes simplex.

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cold sore British  

noun

1. Technical name: herpes labialis.  a cluster of blisters at the margin of the lips that sometimes accompanies the common cold, caused by a viral infection

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Etymology

Origin of cold sore

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

While it can cause painful blisters or ulcers that recur over time, it can lay dormant with most people having no symptoms - and Helen never had a cold sore herself.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

If I run out and miss a day or two, I get slight tingling and even a small cold sore.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2024

The prospect of suffering “post-infective syndrome” after a bout of flu or a cold sore doesn’t send people into a protective bubble, he added.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2023

"Pastina is the cure for any cold, sore throat or sniffle," Ali Abene Dahlhaus wrote on Facebook.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2023

I sleep that night on their sofa, and by the next night, I’m back in the apartment, warming my fingers and soaking my cold, sore feet.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron