Showing results for "hives"

• plural of hive.
• present tense form of hive (3rd person singular).

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

See Examples For:

hives

Al-Dabba and his sons, donning protective netted hats and wielding metal bee smokers, gently inspect the neat rows of teeming hives.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Honeybees typically nest above ground in hollow trees or managed hives, and their colonies usually contain between 30,000 and 60,000 bees.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 7, 2026

The most common symptoms are hives and gastrointestinal issues, but symptoms can progress to shortness of breath and even anaphylactic shock.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

They sent their children to school and went to church and attended meetings of the Masons and of forty-five other secret societies having lodges, kingdoms, and hives in the village.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• epidemic
• eruption
• flood
• spate
• wave