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Synonyms

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.

hives British  
/ haɪvz /

noun

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

"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
hives Scientific  
/ hīvz /

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

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.

Etymology

Origin of hives

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hives and anaphylaxis are true allergic reactions that result from the immune system producing antibodies that target penicillin like it would if it were fighting a pathogen such as a cold or flu virus.

From Scientific American • Oct. 5, 2023

“Due to an unfortunate rift in the time-space continuum, it has been 11 years since the Hives played New York.”

From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2023

Hives placed at the National Archives building in Waltham, Massachusetts, last year did not survive the winter.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2023

Swan broke serve in her first three return games en route to a 6-4 6-3 win over world number 772 Zoe Hives.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2022

You are welcome to Shem, Shun, when he returns Home decorated — his feet like Hives a-weeping Honey.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.