Herpes is a disease which causes painful red spots to appear on the skin.
herpes in British English
(ˈhɜːpiːz)
noun
any of several inflammatory diseases of the skin, esp herpes simplex, characterized by the formation of small watery blisters
See also genital herpes
Word origin
C17: via Latin from Greek: a creeping, from herpein to creep
herpes in American English
(ˈhɜrˌpiz)
noun
any of several acute inflammatory diseases, esp. herpes simplex, caused by various herpesviruses and characterizedby the eruption of small blisters on the skin and mucous membranes
Derived forms
herpetic (herˈpetic) (hərˈpɛtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
L < Gr herpēs, lit., a creeping, herpes < herpein, to creep: see serpent
Examples of 'herpes' in a sentence
herpes
They are particularly able in their control of the herpes group of viruses.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
And they are twice as likely to catch herpes.
The Sun (2007)
Other viruses in the herpes group have been linked to male infertility.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It helps keep the herpes virus from springing into action as temperatures drop.
The Sun (2010)
He is known for his work on the biology of herpes viruses.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Cold sores are a result of the herpes virus.
The Sun (2014)
It's caused by one of the herpes viruses and it leads to painful blisters which last for a week or so.
The Sun (2008)
Through genetic engineering, common viruses such as herpes can be modified to infect cancer almost exclusively, bypassing healthy cells.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Word lists with
herpes
Human diseases
In other languages
herpes
British English: herpes NOUN
Herpes is a disease which causes painful red spots to appear on the skin.
American English: herpes
Brazilian Portuguese: herpes
Chinese: 疱疹
European Spanish: herpes
French: herpès
German: Herpes
Italian: herpes
Japanese: ヘルペス
Korean: 헤르페스
European Portuguese: herpes
Latin American Spanish: herpes
All related terms of 'herpes'
oral herpes
a disease caused by herpes simplex virus type 1, characterized primarily by a cluster of small, transient blisters chiefly at the edge of the lip or nostril ; herpes labialis
herpes zoster
a form of herpes that infects sensory nerves , causing pain and an eruption of blisters along the course of the affected nerve; shingles
genital herpes
a sexually transmitted disease caused by a variety of the herpes simplex virus in which painful blisters occur in the genital region
herpes labialis
a cluster of blisters at the margin of the lips that sometimes accompanies the common cold , caused by a viral infection
herpes simplex
an acute viral disease characterized by formation of clusters of watery blisters , esp on the margins of the lips and nostrils or on the genitals. It can be sexually transmitted and may recur fitfully