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noun C1 Advanced

blister

BLIHS-tuh

Blister (noun) means a small, fluid-filled bubble that forms under the skin, usually from friction, heat, or irritation. Example: “New boots gave her a painful blister on her heel.”

noun
1
A small, fluid-filled bubble that forms under the skin, usually from friction, heat, or irritation.
"New boots gave her a painful blister on her heel."
"The burn left a large blister on his forearm."
2
A bubble or raised patch on a surface such as paint or plastic.
"Damp had caused blisters to form on the ceiling paint."
verb
1
To develop blisters, or to cause them to form.
"Her hands blistered after a day of rowing."
2
To criticise someone harshly.
"The coach blistered the team for their sloppy defending."

How to use blister

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA painful skin bubble caused by rubbing or heat — or, informally, a harsh telling-off.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
a blister forms blister pack blister the paintwork

Word forms

blistered past tense, blisters plural, blisters singular

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New boots gave her a painful _____ on her heel.

Etymology

From Old French blestre, tracing back to a Germanic word for a swelling.

Origin: Old French

Related words

Rhymes for blister

See all rhymes for blister →

Frequently asked questions

What does “blister” mean?

The word “blister” means a small, fluid-filled bubble that forms under the skin, usually from friction, heat, or irritation. In plain terms, a painful skin bubble caused by rubbing or heat — or, informally, a harsh telling-off.

How do you pronounce “blister”?

“Blister” is pronounced BLIHS-tuh (/ˈblɪstɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “blister” in a sentence?

Here is “blister” used in a sentence: “New boots gave her a painful blister on her heel.”

What is another word for “blister”?

Words with a similar meaning to “blister” include bleb, blain and vesicate.

What part of speech is “blister”?

Depending on how it is used, “blister” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “blister” come from?

The word “blister” comes from Old French. From Old French blestre, tracing back to a Germanic word for a swelling.

How many meanings does “blister” have?

“Blister” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, fluid-filled bubble that forms under the skin, usually from friction, heat, or irritation.

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