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
1
A thick yellowish-white fluid made up of dead white blood cells and bacteria that forms at the site of an infection.
"Pus was seeping out of the wound."
"The wound was oozing pus and needed to be cleaned."
"A doctor drained the pus from the abscess."
How to use pus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe gross yellowish fluid that collects in an infected wound or spot.
Common pairings
oozing pus
full of pus
drain the pus
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Word forms
- Plural
- pura
- Third person singular
- pusses
- Past tense
- pussed
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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.
