cold sore

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Compound of cold +‎ sore, probably for the tendency of the vesicles to recur along with other illness, or possibly during cold weather, though this explanation is less common.[1] Compare synonym fever blister.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

cold sore (plural cold sores)

  1. (pathology) A small bump (namely a vesicle) on the lips resulting from infection by herpes simplex viruses (mostly HHV1 but also HHV2).

Synonyms[edit]

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ cold sore, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, December, 2012.

Anagrams[edit]