Herpes Definition

hûrpēz
noun
Any of several acute inflammatory diseases, esp. herpes simplex, caused by various herpesviruses and characterized by the eruption of small blisters on the skin and mucous membranes.
Webster's New World

(medicine) A viral infection, caused by the Herpes simplex virus, marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes or on the genitals.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
  • herpes virus

Other Word Forms of Herpes

Noun

Singular:
herpes
Plural:
herpeses

Origin of Herpes

  • From Latin herpes, from Ancient Greek ἕρπης (herpēs, “herpes; literally, a creeping”), from ἕρπειν (herpein, “to creep”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Latin herpēs from Greek from herpein to creep

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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