blister

[blis-ter]

noun

1. a thin vesicle on the skin, containing watery matter or serum, as from a burn or other injury.

2. any similar swelling, as an air bubble in a coat of paint.

3. a relatively large bubble occurring in glass during blowing.

4. Military.,  a transparent bulge or dome on the fuselage of an airplane, usually for mounting a gun.

5. Photography.,  a bubble of air formed where the emulsion has separated from the base of a film, as because of defective processing.

6. a dome or skylight on a building.

7. the moving bubble in a spirit level.

8. a small blisterlike covering of plastic, usually affixed to a piece of cardboard and containing a small item, as a pen, bolt, or medicinal tablet.

verb (used with object)

1. to raise a blister or blisters on.

   These new shoes blistered my feet.

2. to criticize or rebuke severely.

   The boss blistered his assistant in front of the whole office.

3. to beat or thrash; punish severely.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or rise as a blister or blisters; become blistered.

blister

/ ˈblɪstə /

noun

1. a small bubble-like elevation of the skin filled with serum, produced as a reaction to a burn, mechanical irritation, etc

2. a swelling containing air or liquid, as on a painted surface

3. a transparent dome or any bulge on the fuselage of an aircraft, such as one used for observation

4. slang,  an irritating person

5. slang,  a rebuke

verb

1. to have or cause to have blisters

2. (tr) to attack verbally with great scorn or sarcasm

Other Word Forms

• blistered adjective
• blistery adjective
• reblister verb
• unblistered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blister¹

1250–1300; Middle English blister, blester < Old Norse blǣstri, dative of blāstr swelling. See blast, blow ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of blister¹

C13: from Old French blestre , probably from Middle Dutch bluyster blister; see _blast

Example Sentences

It nudged me to trust a roast chicken with five more minutes, until the skin blistered into crackle and glass.

From Salon

Even alongside George Clooney, playing the aging screen icon of the title, and Adam Sandler as Kelly’s weary confidant and manager, it’s Crudup’s brief but blistering appearance that cuts the deepest.

From Los Angeles Times

The spots fill up with fluid and become blisters before crusting over to form scabs, which eventually drop off and clear up.

From BBC

On a blistering morning earlier this week, an unusually large crowd had gathered at Imjingang Station - the last stop on Seoul's metropolitan subway line that inches the closest to North Korea.

From BBC

Freeland lasted just four innings, leaving with what appeared to be a blister on his left hand after giving up six hits and a walk but stranding four runners.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abscess 
• cyst 
• pimple 
• sore 
• ulcer 
• welt