English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

poultice

POHL-tihs
Quiz me More like this

Poultice (noun) means a soft, warm, moist paste — often wrapped in cloth — applied to a sore or aching part of the body to soothe it. Example: “Her grandmother swore by a mustard poultice for chest colds.”

noun
1
A soft, warm, moist paste — often wrapped in cloth — applied to a sore or aching part of the body to soothe it.
"Her grandmother swore by a mustard poultice for chest colds."
"The nurse applied a poultice to draw out the infection."
verb
1
To treat a wound or sore area with a poultice.
"He poulticed the bee sting with baking soda and water."

How to use poultice

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA warm, mushy dressing you press onto a sore spot to draw out pain or infection.

Common pairings
apply a poultice mustard poultice poultice the wound
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like poultice.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
poultices
Third person singular
poultices
Past tense
poulticed
Test yourself on “poultice” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her grandmother swore by a mustard _____ for chest colds.

Etymology

From Latin pultes, "porridge" — the same root as the word "pulse" (as in edible legumes).

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for poultice

See all rhymes for poultice →

Frequently asked questions

What does “poultice” mean?
The word “poultice” means a soft, warm, moist paste — often wrapped in cloth — applied to a sore or aching part of the body to soothe it. In plain terms, a warm, mushy dressing you press onto a sore spot to draw out pain or infection.
How do you pronounce “poultice”?
“Poultice” is pronounced POHL-tihs (/ˈpoʊltɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “poultice” in a sentence?
Here is “poultice” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother swore by a mustard poultice for chest colds.”
What is another word for “poultice”?
Words with a similar meaning to “poultice” include cataplasm.
What part of speech is “poultice”?
Depending on how it is used, “poultice” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “poultice” come from?
The word “poultice” comes from Latin. From Latin pultes, "porridge" — the same root as the word "pulse" (as in edible legumes).
How many meanings does “poultice” have?
“Poultice” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, warm, moist paste — often wrapped in cloth — applied to a sore or aching part of the body to soothe it.

People also searched