wart

American  

[wawrt] / wɔrt /

noun

1. a small, often hard, abnormal elevation on the skin, usually caused by a papomavirus.

2. any small protuberance, as on the surface of certain plants, the skin of certain animals, etc.

3. any unattractive detrimental feature or aspect.

   The biography presents the full story of the prime minister's political career, warts and all.

4. venereal wart.

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wart British  

/ wɔːt /

noun

1. Also called: verruca.  pathol any firm abnormal elevation of the skin caused by a virus

2. botany a small rounded outgrowth

3. with all blemishes evident

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wart Scientific  

/ wôrt /

1. A small growth on the skin caused by a virus, occurring typically on the hands or feet.

2. A similar growth on a plant, especially one caused by a fungal disease.

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Other Word Forms

• warted adjective
• wartless adjective
• wartlike adjective
• warty adjective

Etymology

Origin of wart

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English wearte; cognate with German Warze, Old Norse varta; akin to Latin verrūca “wart”

Example Sentences

“And so rather than giving them the benefit of the doubt all the time and then rewarding them for very consistent growth, I think investors are starting to look for warts.”

From Barron's

A "warts and all" assessment of the impact of the North Coast 500 road trip has been ordered amid concerns about overtourism.

From BBC

Our cities remain rich places, warts and all.

From Los Angeles Times

“I thought I showed them in a good light but I guess they felt that I showed too many of the warts and not enough of the clear skin.”

From Los Angeles Times

And though the book has its shortcomings, he rightly sees the movie as a kind of passkey into the history of the first half-century of Hollywood itself, warts and all.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blemish
• mole