Blister

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪstÉ™(r)

Origin

From Old French blestre.

Noun

1. A small bubble between the layers of the skin that contains watery or bloody fluid and is caused by friction and pressure, burning, freezing, chemical irritation, disease or infection.
• GraingerPainful blisters swelled my tender hands.
2. A swelling on a plant.
3. (medicine) Something applied to the skin to raise a blister; a vesicatory or other applied medicine.
• 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I.168:'T is written in the Hebrew Chronicle,
  How the physicians, leaving pill and potion,
  Prescribed, by way of blister, a young belle,
  When old King David's blood grew dull in motion,
  And that the medicine answered very well ....
4. A bubble, as on a painted surface.
5. (roofing) An enclosed pocket of air, which may be mixed with water or solvent vapor, trapped between impermeable layers of felt or between the membrane and substrate.
6. A type of pre-formed packaging made from plastic that contains cavitiesblister cardblister pack

Synonyms

• bleb

Derived terms

• blister pack

Full definition of blister

Verb

1. To cause blisters to form.
2. (transitive) To criticise severely.
3. (intransitive) To break out in blisters.

Derived terms

• blistery
• blood blister

Synonyms

• vesicate

Anagrams

• bristle
• riblets