abscess

UK: /ˈæbsɛs/ US: /ˈæbsɛs/ ,(ab′ses)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ab•scess /ˈæbsɛs/   n. [countable]

1. Pathology a swelling in the body caused by a gathering of pus:
   She had a painful abscess in her gums.

ab•scessed, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ab•scess  (ab′ses), n. [Pathol.]

1. Pathology a localized collection of pus in the tissues of the body, often accompanied by swelling and inflammation and frequently caused by bacteria.

• Latin abscessus a going away, abscess, equivalent. to absced-, variant stem of abscēdere to go away, separate off, form an abscess (abs- abs- + cēdere; see cede) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action, with -dt- -ss-
• 1535–45

ab′scessed, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

abscess / ˈæbsɛs -sɪs/ noun

1. a localized collection of pus formed as the product of inflammation and usually caused by bacteria

verb

1. (intransitive) to form such a collection of pus

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin abscessus a going away, a throwing off of bad humours, hence an abscess, from abscēdere to go away

ˈabscessed adjective