herpes simplex

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈsɪmplɛks/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(sim′pleks)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
her′pes sim′plex  (sim′pleks),USA pronunciation 
  1. Pathologyeither of two herpes diseases caused by a herpesvirus that infects humans and some other animals and produces small, transient blisters on the skin or mucous membranes, one type of virus (herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1) usually associated with oral herpes but also causing genital herpes and the other (herpes simplex virus type 2, or HSV-2) usually causing genital herpes.
  • Neo-Latin: literally, simple herpes
  • 1905–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
herpes simplex / ˈsɪmplɛks/
  1. an acute viral disease characterized by formation of clusters of watery blisters, esp on the margins of the lips and nostrils or on the genitals. It can be sexually transmitted and may recur fitfully
Etymology: New Latin: simple herpes
'herpes simplex' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
HSV-1 - HSV-2 - cold sore - genital herpes - herpes - herpesvirus - idoxuridine - oral herpes

Forum discussions with the word(s) "herpes simplex" in the title:


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