wart

noun

ˈwȯrt 

1

a

: a horny projection on the skin usually of the extremities produced by proliferation of the skin papillae and caused by any of numerous human papillomaviruses

called also verruca vulgaris

b

: any of numerous similar skin lesions not caused by viruses

2

: an excrescence or protuberance resembling a true wart

especially : a glandular excrescence or hardened protuberance on a plant

3

a

: one that suggests a wart especially in smallness, unpleasantness, or unattractiveness

b

: defect, imperfection

—often used in the phrase warts and all

warted

ˈwȯr-təd 

adjective

wartless

ˈwȯrt-ləs 

adjective

warty

ˈwȯr-tē 

adjective

Examples of wart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Orioles’ entry into the American League thrust the city into the national spotlight and exposed its social mores, warts and all. —Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2024

Drawing on extensive interviews with Kahneman himself and excellent access to Tversky’s papers and his wife, Barbara, Lewis was able to construct an account of the friendship that lays bare, warts and all, the emotions, intellectual intensity, and tensions behind their creativity. —Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2017

This book, absorbing and highly detailed, tells his story, warts and all. —Ted Reed, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024

It’s also used in photodynamic therapy, which utilizes low-power red laser light to drive a cell-destroying chemical reaction that can treat conditions like skin and other types of cancer, psoriasis, acne, and warts, according to the Cleveland Clinic. —Erica Sweeney, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English wearte; akin to Old High German warza wart, Old Church Slavic vrědŭ injury

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wart

• genital wart

Kids Definition

wart

noun

ˈwȯ(ə)rt 

1

: a small hard growth on the skin often caused by a virus

2

: something that sticks out (as on a plant) and resembles a wart

warty

ˈwȯrt-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

wart

noun

ˈwȯ(ə)rt 

1

: a horny projection on the skin usually of the extremities produced by proliferation of the skin papillae and caused by any of numerous genotypes of the human papillomavirus see flat wart, genital wart, plantar wart, verruca vulgaris

2

: any of numerous warty skin lesions not caused by human papillomaviruses