urticaria

American  

[ur-ti-kair-ee-uh] / ˌɜr tɪˈkɛər i ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. a transient condition of the skin, usually caused by an allergic reaction, characterized by pale or reddened irregular, elevated patches and severe itching; hives.

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urticaria British  

/ ˌɜːtɪˈkɛərɪə /

noun

1. Nontechnical names: hives.   nettle rash.  a skin condition characterized by the formation of itchy red or whitish raised patches, usually caused by an allergy

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urticaria Scientific  

/ ûr′tĭ-kâr′ē-ə /

1. See hives

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Other Word Forms

• urticarial
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of urticaria

1765–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin urtīc ( a ) nettle + -āria, feminine of -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Amber did some research herself and when she came across cold urticaria, she was referred to a dermatologist.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

Thorne was diagnosed autistic as an adult and lived with an intense skin condition called cholinergic urticaria in his 20s, meaning he was allergic to heat and his own body movements.

From BBC • May 27, 2025

In the realm of additives, substances like tartrazine and sodium benzoate emerge as potential instigators of urticaria and asthma.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2024

In those with solar urticaria, the body develops an immediate allergic reaction to one of the cellular components changed by sunlight.

From New York Times • Jul. 6, 2023

Variously-sized and shaped, whitish, pinkish or reddish elevations, of an evanescent character; as, for example, the lesions of urticaria, the lesions produced by the bite of a mosquito or by the sting of a nettle.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman