wart

noun

ˈwȯrt 

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

ˈwȯr-təd 

adjective

wartless

ˈwȯrt-ləs 

adjective

warty

ˈwȯr-tē 

adjective

Examples of wart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a 3-7 record over their last 10 games, some warts have started to show. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 24 June 2024

Plantar warts: Typically growing on the sole—or the plantar surface—of feet, plantar warts may be painful. —Sarah Bradley, Health, 19 June 2024

Walking barefoot on sidewalks or inside public spaces like stores and restaurants can expose you to harsh temperatures, sharp objects, pollutants and germs that can lead to burns and painful infections like tetanus, warts and hand, foot, mouth disease, Parthasarathy says. —Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024

Boras’ other clients this offseason also came with warts. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English wearte; akin to Old High German warza wart, Old Church Slavonic vrědŭ injury

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wart

• genital wart

Kids Definition

wart

noun

ˈwȯ(ə)rt 

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

ˈwȯrt-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

wart

noun

ˈwȯ(ə)rt 

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