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

Sores, Bumps, or Lesions: Any unexpected sores, bumps, or blisters on or around your genitals, mouth or rectum could be a sign of an STD like herpes or syphilis. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2025

Four starting pitchers are hurt, with Braxton Garrett (left elbow surgery) out for the year, Eury Perez (Tommy John rehab) out until around the All-Star Break, and Ryan Weathers (left forearm) and Edward Cabrera (right middle finger blister) sidelined for the early going of the season. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2025

Verb

But in a 2018 case study, a woman experienced severe skin burns that blistered after rubbing raw garlic on her toes to treat athlete's foot. —Cathy Nelson, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2025

The peak-season ingredients are invariably fresh and straight from local farmers markets, and the dough is blistered in all the right places with a nice pull and fermented tang. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for blister

• lyster
• mister
• sister
• twister
• resister
• resistor
• stepsister
• transistor

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