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 adjective
wartless adjective
warty adjective

Examples of wart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 For: plantar warts and common warts for adults and kids How to Use: cover the wart with the product, then cover it with a bandage. Susan Bard, Health, 4 Sep. 2024 Americans should rejoice that in many ways the Tea Party movement, warts and all, is a significantly more capable and reliable partner for the United States' world-order-building tasks than were the isolationists of 60 years ago. Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2011 See all Example Sentences for wart 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of wart was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wart

Cite this Entry

“Wart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wart. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wart

noun
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 adjective

Medical Definition

wart

noun
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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