a small bubble-like elevation of the skin filled with serum, produced as a reaction to a burn, mechanical irritation, etc a rebuke
to have or cause to have blisters - (transitive)
to attack verbally with great scorn or sarcasm
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
blis•ter /ˈblɪstɚ/USA pronunciation
n.
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [countable]
- Pathologya thin swelling on the skin containing watery matter, as from a burn or friction:had a blister on my heel.
- any similar swelling, as an air bubble in a coat of paint:This brush will prevent paint blisters from forming.
v.
- Pathologyto (cause to) become swollen;
to (cause to) get a blister on: [~ + object]The shoes blistered my toes.[no object]The paint blistered in the sun. - [~ + object] to subject to intense heat: The tropical heat blistered the coast.
- to criticize or rebuke severely:[~ + object]He blistered his aides.
blis•ter
(blis′tər),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
v.i.
- a thin vesicle on the skin, containing watery matter or serum, as from a burn or other injury.
- any similar swelling, as an air bubble in a coat of paint.
- a relatively large bubble occurring in glass during blowing.
- [Mil.]a transparent bulge or dome on the fuselage of an airplane, usually for mounting a gun.
- [Photog.]a bubble of air formed where the emulsion has separated from the base of a film, as because of defective processing.
- Buildinga dome or skylight on a building.
- the moving bubble in a spirit level.
- a small blisterlike covering of plastic, usually affixed to a piece of cardboard and containing a small item, as a pen, bolt, or medicinal tablet.
v.t.
- to raise a blister or blisters on:These new shoes blistered my feet.
- to criticize or rebuke severely:The boss blistered his assistant in front of the whole office.
- to beat or thrash;
punish severely.
v.i.
- to form or rise as a blister or blisters;
become blistered.
- Old Norse blǣstri, dative of blāstr swelling. See blast, blow2
- Middle English blister, blester 1250–1300
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