adjective
- causing a blister or blisters.
- (especially of sunlight, heat, etc.) very severe or intense.
- very fast or rapid: a blistering pace.
noun
- the act or an instance of forming a blister or blisters.
- a series or group of blisters, as on a painted surface.
noun
- 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.
- Military. a transparent bulge or dome on the fuselage of an airplane, usually for mounting a gun.
- Photography. a bubble of air formed where the emulsion has separated from the base of a film, as because of defective processing.
- a 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.
verb (used with object)
- 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.
verb (used without object)
- to form or rise as a blister or blisters; become blistered.
adjective
- (of weather) extremely hot
- (of criticism) extremely harsh
noun
- a small bubble-like elevation of the skin filled with serum, produced as a reaction to a burn, mechanical irritation, etc
- a swelling containing air or liquid, as on a painted surface
- a transparent dome or any bulge on the fuselage of an aircraft, such as one used for observation
- slang an irritating person
- NZ slang a rebuke
verb
- to have or cause to have blisters
- (tr) to attack verbally with great scorn or sarcasm
c.1300, perhaps via Old French blestre “blister, lump, bump,” from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse blastr “a blowing,” dative blæstri “swelling”), or from Middle Dutch blyster “swelling;” perhaps from PIE *bhlei- “to blow, swell,” extension of root *bhel- (2) “to blow, inflate, swell;” see bole.
“to become covered in blisters,” late 15c.; “to raise blisters on,” 1540s, from blister (n.). Related: Blistered; blistering.
n.
- vesiculation
n.
- A local swelling of the skin that contains watery fluid and is caused by burning, infection, or irritation.