abscess

play

noun ab·scess \ ˈab-ˌses \

Definition of abscess

plural abscesses play \ˈab-ˌse-səz, -ˌsēz; -sə-səz\

:a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue

—

abscessed

play \-ˌsest\ adjective

- an abscessed tooth [=an infected tooth that has caused an abscess in the gum]

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Recent Examples of abscess from the Web

Fresh-faced, her blond hair in a ponytail, the woman looked healthier than most people Williams visits, with their grayish skin, abscesses and mottled veins.

— author: jan hoffman, Alaska Dispatch News, "Hunting a killer in Oklahoma: Sex, drugs and the return of syphilis," 25 Aug. 2017
That includes antibiotics for infections or surgical interventions, such as stitches and incisions to drain an abscess.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Rare pubic-grooming data reveals injuries, odd habits, and nicked bits," 17 Aug. 2017
My thighs and underarms burned and the abscesses became open wounds that bled and drained.

— allyson byers, SELF, "My Chronic Skin Condition Made Me Quit the Gym," 10 Aug. 2017
A scan revealed an abscess, a mass of pus that has collected in the body, on Emily’s native kidney, the one left behind.

— andy kopsa, Cosmopolitan, "What It's Like to Raise a Child With a Terminal Illness in America," 1 Aug. 2017
Anal pain can also point to an abscess or to fistula disease, an abnormal tunnel between two organs.

— sandee lamotte, CNN, "Hemorrhoids: Dangers, treatments and prevention," 4 July 2017
He was hospitalized twice, once for six days for meningitis and another time for 32 days because of an abscess at the injection site on his back.

— ann zaniewski, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan fungal meningitis victims say sentence for pharmacy co-owner not enough," 27 June 2017
Some of the beef from those abattoirs was found to have abscesses caused by a...

— jeffrey t. lewis, WSJ, "Brazil Official Promises to Take Necessary Measures to Resume Beef Exports to U.S.," 23 June 2017
Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing both skipped the 149th running of the Belmont, and news broke Wednesday that would-be favorite Classic Empire could not make the race due to a hoof abscess.

— tim balk, SI.com, "Tapwrit's final finish makes up for Triple Crown letdown at Belmont," 11 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abscess.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of abscess

borrowed from Latin abscessus "departure, withdrawal, congestion, abscess," from abscēdere "to go away, withdraw, form an abscess" (from abs-, variant of ab- ab- before c- and t- + cēdere "to go, withdraw, move away") + -tus, suffix of verbal nouns — more at cede

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First Known Use: 1574

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ABSCESS Defined for Kids

abscess

play

noun ab·scess \ ˈab-ˌses \

Definition of abscess for Students

:a collection of pus with swollen and red tissue around it

—

abscessed

\-ˌsest\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

abscess

play

noun ab·scess \ ˈab-ˌses \

medical Definition of abscess

plural abscesses play \ˈab-səs-ˌēz, -ˌses-, -əz\

:a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue

—

abscessed

play \-ˌsest\ adjective

Learn More about abscess

See words that rhyme with abscess Spanish Central: Translation of abscess Nglish: Translation of abscess for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of abscess for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about abscess

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abscess

Definition of abscess

abscessed

Recent Examples of abscess from the Web

Origin and Etymology of abscess

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ABSCESS Defined for Kids

abscess

Definition of abscess for Students

abscessed

Medical Dictionary

abscess

medical Definition of abscess

abscessed

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abscess

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