aphtha

aph·tha

noun \ˈaf-thə, ˈap-thə\

plural aph·thae also ap·thae \-ˌthē\

Definition of APHTHA

1

: a speck, flake, or blister on the mucous membranes (as in the mouth or gastrointestinal tract or on the lips) characteristic of some diseases (as thrush)

2

: one of the vesicles filled with clear serous fluid that occur in the mouth, on the udder, and in the spaces between the digits of cloven-footed animals in some diseases—usually used in plural

3

: a disease (as foot-and-mouth disease) characterized by aphthae

—aph·thic \-thik\ adjective

Variants of APHTHA

aph·tha also ap·tha \ˈap-\