blister

1 of 2

noun

blis·​ter ˈbli-stər 

plural blisters

1

: a fluid-filled elevation of the epidermis compare water blister

2

: an enclosed raised spot (as in paint or the surface of baked dough) resembling a blister

3

: an agent (such as lewisite) that causes blistering

4

: a fungal disease of plants marked by raised patches on the leaves

5

: any of various structures that bulge out (such as a gunner's compartment on a bomber)

blistery

ˈbli-st(ə-)rē 

adjective

blister

2 of 2

verb

blistered; blistering ˈbli-st(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to become affected with a blister

transitive verb

1

: to raise a blister on

2

: lambaste sense 2

3

: to defeat (a competitor) decisively

… Brodeur was blistered in the early rounds by lightly regarded teams … before backstopping New Jersey to the championship last season.

—Kostya Kennedy

4

: to hit (a ball, shot, etc.) very powerfully

… Soriano blistered a line drive toward left field.

—Buster Olney

Examples of blister in a Sentence

Noun

She developed a blister on her heel where her shoe rubbed against it.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After a year, the worm emerges, slowly, through an extremely painful skin blister; victims spread the disease by seeking pain relief in waterways, where the worm releases more larvae, spreading infections. —Bill Marsh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Rarer side effects include blisters, a herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreak, infections, scarring, and skin lightening or darkening. —Laura Schober, Health, 28 Dec. 2024

Verb

Other causes of blisters include autoimmune health conditions such as bullous pemphigoid (when the immune system attacks the skin and causes blistering) and dermatitis herpetiformis (extremely itchy, red blisters in people with celiac disease). —Laura Schober, Health, 27 Dec. 2024

That included a blistering 7.5% jump for LongHorn Steakhouse and a 2% increase for Olive Garden — chains that collectively represent about 69% of the company's revenue. —Nathan Bomey, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English blister, blester, probably from Old English *blȳster, *blǣster; akin to Old Norse blāstr swelling, Old English blǣst blast

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing blister

• blister beetle
• blister card
• blister pack
• blister rust
• fever blister
• water blister
• white-pine blister rust

Kids Definition

blister

1 of 2 noun

blis·​ter ˈblis-tər 

1

: a raised area of the outer skin containing liquid compare water blister

2

: a raised spot (as in paint) resembling a blister

3

: something that causes blistering

4

: any of various structures (as a gunner's compartment on an airplane) that bulge out

blistery

-t(ə-)rē 

adjective

blister

2 of 2 verb

blistered; blistering -t(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to develop a blister : rise in blisters

2

: to raise a blister on

Medical Definition

blister

1 of 2 noun

blis·​ter ˈblis-tər 

1

: a fluid-filled elevation of the epidermis compare water blister

2

: an agent that causes blistering

blistery

-t(ə-)rē 

adjective

blister

2 of 2 verb

blistered; blistering -t(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to become affected with blisters

transitive verb

: to raise a blister on