noun

pus

puhs

Pus (noun) means a thick yellowish-white fluid made up of dead white blood cells and bacteria that forms at the site of an infection. Example: “The wound was oozing pus and needed to be cleaned.”

noun

A thick yellowish-white fluid made up of dead white blood cells and bacteria that forms at the site of an infection.

"The wound was oozing pus and needed to be cleaned."

"A doctor drained the pus from the abscess."

How to use pus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe gross yellowish fluid that collects in an infected wound or spot.

Common pairings

oozing pus full of pus drain the pus

Word forms

pussed past tense, pura plural, pusses singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “pus” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The wound was oozing _____ and needed to be cleaned.

Etymology

From Middle English pus (15th c.), a borrowing from Latin pus (“pus”). Widely displaced quitter and atter in this sense.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →

Pu festering Pansa ichor sanies purulence plutonium suppuration atomic number 94

Related words

infected Pu festering ichor plutonium purulence sanies suppuration

Frequently asked questions

What does “pus” mean?

The word “pus” means a thick yellowish-white fluid made up of dead white blood cells and bacteria that forms at the site of an infection. In plain terms, the gross yellowish fluid that collects in an infected wound or spot.

How do you pronounce “pus”?

“Pus” is pronounced puhs (/pʌs/ in IPA).

How do you use “pus” in a sentence?

Here is “pus” used in a sentence: “The wound was oozing pus and needed to be cleaned.”

What part of speech is “pus”?

“Pus” is a noun.

People also searched

infected Pu festering ichor plutonium purulence sanies suppuration