US /ˈpʌstjuːl/ UK /ˈpʌstjuːl/
noun Freq #96902

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a small raised lesion on the skin containing pus

    The clinician examined the inflamed pustule for signs of infection.

  2. 2
    noun

    a small blister, swelling, or pustule-like structure on a plant or animal

    The coral sting raised a watery pustule on her arm.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a small raised lesion on... pus-filled blisterpimple
2 noun · a small blister, swelling,... blisterraised spot
Word family
Forms pustules
Derived forms micropustulepustularpustulatedpustulelikepustulentpustuliformpustulosepustulosis
Related forms abscessboilpimplepus

Etymology

From Middle English and Old French pustule, from Latin pustula, 'blister or inflamed sore.' Medical use narrowed the primary sense to a small pus-containing skin lesion, while biology retains broader comparisons to blister-like structures.

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