hives

American  

[hahyvz] / haɪvz /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. any of various eruptive conditions of the skin, as the wheals of urticaria.

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hives British  

/ haɪvz /

noun

1. (functioning as singular or plural) pathol a nontechnical name for urticaria

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hives Scientific  

/ hīvz /

1. A skin condition characterized by transient, itching welts, usually resulting from an allergic reaction.

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hives Cultural  

1. A condition characterized by the sudden appearance of red, raised areas on the skin that itch severely. Hives may be caused by an allergic reaction (see allergy) to foods or other substances.

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Etymology

Origin of hives

First recorded in 1490–1500; originally Scots; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Aside from nature tracking, Alvéole, a Montreal-based company, also helps commercial buildings set up bee hives to help boost local biodiversity.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Toledo is famous for this marzipan. It’s made of almonds from the local trees and honey from the local hives. Its aroma has filled our streets for centuries.”

From Literature

What optimism there is lies only in the title, an ancient Greek word for the science of transforming dead cows into hives, of turning death into life.”

From Los Angeles Times

A 16-year-old girl from north Wales says she is "always scared" of having an allergic reaction after being diagnosed with a rare condition which sees her experience hives and swelling triggered by cold temperatures.

From BBC

Honey bees are known for their ability to carefully control the temperature inside their hives, but new research shows that extreme summer heat can overwhelm this natural cooling system.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• epidemic
• eruption
• flood
• spate
• wave