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

These styles are low to the ground (no blisters here), but still look stylish enough to pair with formalwear. —Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2024

She was born with no skin on her left foot and her right arm and can develop excruciatingly painful blisters from just the slightest touch, which is why 80% of her body is covered in bandages. —Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 28 Oct. 2024

Verb

That prickly sense of anxiety, constantly reading the tea leaves as a matter of survival, is just part of the ecosystem, like the blistering summer heat. —Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

The hottest day ever recorded in Phoenix was June 26, 1990, when the temperature reached a blistering 122 degrees. —Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 15 Nov. 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