blister

1 of 2

noun

blis·​ter ˈbli-stər How to pronounce blister (audio)
plural blisters
1
: a fluid-filled elevation of the epidermis compare water blister
2
: an enclosed raised spot (as in paint or the surface of baked dough) resembling a blister
3
: an agent (such as lewisite) that causes blistering
4
: a fungal disease of plants marked by raised patches on the leaves
5
: any of various structures that bulge out (such as a gunner's compartment on a bomber)
blistery adjective

blister

2 of 2

verb

blistered; blistering ˈbli-st(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce blister (audio)

intransitive verb

: to become affected with a blister

transitive verb

1
: to raise a blister on
2
3
: to defeat (a competitor) decisively
… Brodeur was blistered in the early rounds by lightly regarded teams … before backstopping New Jersey to the championship last season.Kostya Kennedy
4
: to hit (a ball, shot, etc.) very powerfully
… Soriano blistered a line drive toward left field.Buster Olney

Examples of blister in a Sentence

Noun She developed a blister on her heel where her shoe rubbed against it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
What do bedbug bites look like? Bedbug bites are small red, itchy bumps sometimes surrounded by blisters or hives. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 The actor popped a blister on his hand during the first take, Fallon remembers, leading to a bloody handprint on the seat of the outfit. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 Contents include different types and sizes of bandages and sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tincture of benzoin, ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines, sting relief wipes, splinter tweezers, blister patches, and more. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 But their fit and friction barriers are helpful for hikers that struggle with foot issues like hot spots and blisters. Meg Carney, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024 When the lasers are not operated properly, blisters, burns and infections may occur – and these can be painful. Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 Leeches, enemas, and blistering—the deliberate raising of blisters on the skin—were part of the treatment. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 The lightweight padding has a cushioning layer to soften the pressure, but also is topped with antimicrobial technology and four-way stretch fabric to prevent chafing and blisters. Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024 The hallmark of a common virus that potentially impacts 80 percent of the United States, cold sores can appear out of nowhere and look like small blisters, which eventually crust over. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2024
Verb
Fellow American Brian Harman shot a blistering 64, the best round of the tournament so far, to soar within two strokes of Schauffele as the chasing pack bunched up behind the leader. Jack Bantock, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 The numbers in the preliminary report by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health alarmed officials in America's hottest big metro, raising concerns about how to better protect vulnerable groups such as homeless people and older adults from the blistering summer heat. Anita Snow, The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 Fort Worth’s blistering growth has strained the city’s road infrastructure. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2024 When your fashion narrative will always be viewed in such a specific context, serving up a blistering sartorial ace represents a unique challenge. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 Bitcoin’s blistering rally produced record inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs — and cemented the investor favorites in this new asset class. Elijah Nicholson-Messmer, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2024 The blistering report and the sheriff’s pointed response appear to signal a shift in relations between the county’s top cop and the inspector general, which had generally been amiable — at least in public — since Luna took office in December 2022. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Leeches, enemas, and blistering—the deliberate raising of blisters on the skin—were part of the treatment. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 For me, the third time’s a charm in proving that these Brooks running shoes really are wear-ready straight out of the box and will not blister my feet. Terri Peters, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blister.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English blister, blester, probably from Old English *blȳster, *blǣster; akin to Old Norse blāstr swelling, Old English blǣst blast

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of blister was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near blister

Cite this Entry

“Blister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blister. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blister

1 of 2 noun
blis·​ter ˈblis-tər How to pronounce blister (audio)
1
: a raised area of the outer skin containing liquid compare water blister
2
: a raised spot (as in paint) resembling a blister
3
: something that causes blistering
4
: any of various structures (as a gunner's compartment on an airplane) that bulge out
blistery adjective

blister

2 of 2 verb
blistered; blistering -t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce blister (audio)
1
: to develop a blister : rise in blisters
2
: to raise a blister on

Medical Definition

blister

1 of 2 noun
blis·​ter ˈblis-tər How to pronounce blister (audio)
1
: a fluid-filled elevation of the epidermis compare water blister
2
: an agent that causes blistering
blistery adjective

blister

2 of 2 verb
blistered; blistering -t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce blister (audio)

intransitive verb

: to become affected with blisters

transitive verb

: to raise a blister on
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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