pock

1 of 2

noun

ˈpäk 

: a pustule in an eruptive disease (such as smallpox)

also : a spot suggesting such a pustule

pock

2 of 2

verb

pocked; pocking; pocks

transitive verb

: to mark with or as if with pocks : pit

Synonyms

Noun

• boil
• fester
• hickey
• papule
• pimple
• pustule
• whelk
• zit [slang]

Examples of pock in a Sentence

Noun

noticed strange pocks on his torso

Verb

one of the many craters that pock the moon's surface

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bennet will be pock marking the middle of his term with a grueling primary against Attorney General Phil Weiser in June 2026 and then what could prove to be a challenging general election that November. —The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2025

The heavy makeup that transformed the impossibly handsome Farrell into the scarred and pock-marked Cobb required a lot of hard work and artistry from makeup designer Michael Marino, who spoke about his process during The Penguin’s panel at San Diego Comic Con back in July. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2025

Verb

Outside, suspension rattling potholes, many a foot deep or more, pocked the asphalt drives circling the apartments. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025

The community is pocked by large, unruly trees and overgrown shrubbery where residents see coyotes, bobcats and once even a panther. —Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pokke, from Old English pocc; akin to Middle Low German & Middle Dutch pocke pock

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pock

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

pock

noun

ˈpäk

: a small swelling on the skin like a pimple (as in chicken pox or smallpox)

also : the scar it leaves

Medical Definition

pock

noun

ˈpäk 

: a pustule in an eruptive disease (as smallpox)