noun
abscess
AB-sehs
noun
1
A swollen, pus-filled pocket in the body, usually caused by infection.
"The dentist drained an abscess under his infected tooth."
"An untreated abscess can spread infection to nearby tissue."
verb
1
To develop into a pus-filled swelling.
"The small cut abscessed after days without proper cleaning."
How to Use Abscess
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA painful, swollen pocket of infection filled with pus, often needing to be drained by a doctor or dentist.
Common pairings
dental abscess
drain an abscess
burst abscess
Word Forms
abscessed past tense, abscesses plural, abscesses singular
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The dentist drained an _____ under his infected tooth.
Etymology
From Latin abscessus, "a going away" — originally describing how infected matter was thought to "withdraw" and collect in one spot, from abscedo, "to go away."