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

Nine hives survived and will need rehabilitation for the remainder of the year.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

According to the researchers, that is comparable to more than 200 honeybee hives and exceeds Manhattan's human population by more than threefold.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

Funkhouser, a veteran commercial beekeeper, should have around 1,200 hives under his care.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Jenson, from Four Crosses in Powys, said looking after his hives can help him "focus and not worry" about day-to-day life.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

They were best with the bees, and there wasn’t room for so many hands in the hives, lifting the dripping frames.

From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder

Related Words

• epidemic
• eruption
• flood
• spate
• wave