abscess

ab·scess

noun \ˈab-ˌses\

plural ab·scess·es \ˈab-ˌse-səz, -ˌsēz; -sə-səz\

Definition of ABSCESS

: a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue

— ab·scessed \-ˌsest\ adjective

Origin of ABSCESS

Latin abscessus, literally, act of going away, from abscedere to go away, from abs-, ab- + cedere to go

First Known Use: 1615

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with ABSCESS

access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, recess, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, transgress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress

ab·scess

noun \ˈab-ˌses\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ab·scess·es \ˈab-səs-ˌēz, -ˌses-, -əz\

Medical Definition of ABSCESS

: a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue

—ab·scessed \-ˌsest\ adjective

abscess

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Localized collection of pus in a cavity in the deeper layers of the skin or within the body, formed from tissues broken down by white blood cells (leukocytes) in response to inflammation caused by bacteria. A wall develops, separating the thick yellowish pus from the extracellular fluid of nearby healthy tissues. Rupture of the abscess allows the pus to escape and relieves swelling and pain. Treatment consists of cutting into the wall to drain the pus and giving antibiotics. If infective contents enter the bloodstream, they may be carried to remote tissues, seeding new abscesses.