blis|ter

blis|ter «BLIHS tuhr», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a little baglike place in the skin filled with watery matter. Blisters are often caused by burns or rubbing. SYNONYM(S): vesicle, bleb.

2. a similar swelling on the surface of a plant, on metal, on the surface of painted wood, or in glass.

3. a bulge on the fuselage of an aircraft, often of transparent material, for an observer, navigator, or gunner.

4. a bulging structure built onto the hull of a ship for protection against torpedoes.

5. Medicine. anything applied to raise a blister; vesicatory.

–v.t.

1. to raise a blister or blisters on: »

Sunburn has blistered my back.

2. Figurative. to attack with sharp words.

–v.i.

to become covered with blisters; have blisters: »

People often blister when they get sunburned.

╂[< Old French blestre tumor, lump, probably < Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic blāstr swelling)]