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
Skin contact can cause rashes, blisters, and burns. Anna Halkidis, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024 Sanuk Women’s Yoga Sling 2 Sandals $35 $31 Add a touch of bohemian style to your outfits this season with these sleek flip-flops from Sanuk that specifically cover your heel and the toe post of each shoe with material to eliminate blisters, chafing, and overall discomfort. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024 Lesions will look similar to pimples or blisters, but have some key differences in size, color, and feel. Claire Wolters, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2024 Of those injuries, nine included severe burns and/or blisters on a customer’s fingers or hands. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024 The resulting 10 injuries included nine severe burns and blisters on fingers or hands and one cut on a consumer’s finger. Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 22 Mar. 2024 Those injuries include nine severe burns and blisters on fingers or hands, and one cut on a finger. Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 The injuries included nine severe burns and blisters on hands and one cut on a customer's finger, per the report. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 There have been 12 reports of the mugs overheating or breaking, which resulted in 10 injuries including severe burns and blisters on consumers' fingers or hands and one person who suffered a cut finger. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
Glendale will open heat-relief respite centers and offer cooling and hydration locations this summer, giving the city’s homeless and older adults temporary reprieves from the blistering heat. Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024 Mookie Betts also maintained his blistering pace in the early season, helping the Dodgers erase a late three-run deficit with three hits, including a ninth-inning homer, before the team ultimately left the bases loaded in the 10th inning to end the game. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024 But adults are less likely to develop the telltale skin rash and blisters that children with the disease develop, likely because of partial immunity from being infected as a child. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024 But the blistering rate of Nvidia’s gains — an increase of about 290 percent over the past 12 months — has me and many Wall Street analysts wondering how sustainable this run is. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Like Jackson, Rees-Zammit is also known for his blistering speed. Sam Joseph and, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 For the then-expensive, now-bargain price of £500,000, you were rewarded with blistering speed: zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and zero to 100 mph required just 6.3 seconds. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 There’s nothing worse than coming back to your hotel or vacation rental with achy, sore, and blistered feet. Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 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

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 16 Apr. 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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