wart

[ wawrt ]

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.

wart

/ wɔːt /

noun

1. Also calledverruca pathol any firm abnormal elevation of the skin caused by a virus
2. botany a small rounded outgrowth
3. warts and all
   warts and all with all blemishes evident

wart

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈwarted, adjective
• ˈwarty, adjective
• ˈwartˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• warted adjective
• wartless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wart¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wart¹

Old English weart ( e ); related to Old High German warza, Old Norse varta

Example Sentences

In South Carolina, the state’s 250th commission plans to share history “from all points of view,” including “the beauty and the warts and the terror of it all.”

From Time

For example, it’s powered via a single USB connection and doesn’t require a separate wall wart, so it’s perfect for remote laptop recording away from electricity.

From Popular-Science

“Even an institution you love can have warts,” she said, “and from my perspective this is something that is crying out to be addressed.”

From Washington Post

Despite its warts, social media has become a part of daily life for billions of people worldwide.

From Quartz

Measles and common skin warts are examples of viral diseases.

From Science News For Students

Worry-wart Country Club Republicans say, “How about his father?”

From The Daily Beast

In the limelight, every glitch and wart becomes an eyesore for an international audience.

From The Daily Beast

A mole or wart discovered on any part of an old woman's body was thought to be a witch-mark.

From Project Gutenberg

Make a wart bleed, and put the blood on a penny, throw the latter away, and the finder will get the wart.

From Project Gutenberg

If all my ascensions could be put together, they would out-top Olympus and make Ossa a wart.

From Project Gutenberg

They are there without any apparent reason, as if they were a wart on the smooth cheek of mother nature.

From Project Gutenberg

The water is a hundred fathoms deep between Trigger Island and that little green wart out there on the face of the ocean.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blemish
• mole