blister

UK: /ˈblɪstə^r/ US: /ˈblɪstɚ/ ,(blis′tər)

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

blis•ter /ˈblɪstɚ/   n. 

[countable]
1. Pathology a thin swelling on the skin containing watery matter, as from a burn or friction:
   had a blister on my heel.
2. any similar swelling, as an air bubble in a coat of paint:
   This brush will prevent paint blisters from forming.

v. 

3. Pathology to (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.
4. [~ + object] to subject to intense heat:
   The tropical heat blistered the coast.
5. to criticize or rebuke severely:
   [~ + object] He blistered his aides.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

blis•ter  (blis′tər), n. 

1. a thin vesicle on the skin, containing watery matter or serum, as from a burn or other injury.
2. any similar swelling, as an air bubble in a coat of paint.
3. a relatively large bubble occurring in glass during blowing.
4. [Mil.] a transparent bulge or dome on the fuselage of an airplane, usually for mounting a gun.
5. [Photog.] a bubble of air formed where the emulsion has separated from the base of a film, as because of defective processing.
6. Building a dome or skylight on a building.
7. the moving bubble in a spirit level.
8. 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. 

9. to raise a blister or blisters on:
   These new shoes blistered my feet.
10. to criticize or rebuke severely:
    The boss blistered his assistant in front of the whole office.
11. to beat or thrash;
    punish severely.

v.i. 

12. 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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

blister / ˈblɪstə/ noun

1. a small bubble-like elevation of the skin filled with serum, produced as a reaction to a burn, mechanical irritation, etc
2. a rebuke

verb

1. to have or cause to have blisters
2. (transitive) to attack verbally with great scorn or sarcasm

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French blestre, probably from Middle Dutch bluyster blister; see blast

ˈblistered adjective