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abscess

Pronunciation: /ˈabsɪs, -sɛs/

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Definition of abscess

noun

a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus: once the abscesses burst, they usually discharge for several days before gradually healing up figurativeone of his priorities as prime minister was to lance the abscess of corruption

Derivatives

abscessed

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Latin abscessus 'a going away', from the verb abscedere, from ab- 'away from' + cedere 'go', referring to the elimination of infected matter via the pus

Spelling help

Remember that abscess is spelled with -sc- in the middle, and a double s at the end.

abscess in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of abscess in the US English dictionary

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