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carbuncle

Syllabification: (car·bun·cle)
Pronunciation: /ˈkärˌbəNGkəl/
Translate carbuncle | into Italian
Definition of carbuncle

noun

  • 1a severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin, typically infected with staphylococcus bacteria.
  • 2a bright red gem, in particular a garnet cut en cabochon.

Derivatives

carbuncular

adjective

Origin:

Middle English (carbuncle (sense 2)): from Old French charbuncle, from Latin carbunculus 'small coal', from carbo 'coal, charcoal'

carbuncle in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of carbuncle in the British & World English dictionary