English Reference

Word

blister

Phoneticsblis·ter, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈbɫɪstɝ/

UK/blˈɪstɐ/

Definitions

01a fluid-filled bubble on the skin

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine

n. A small bubble on your skin that is filled with clear liquid, usually caused by rubbing or burning.

n. A localized collection of fluid, such as serum or plasma, beneath or within the epidermis, typically caused by friction, thermal injury, or chemical irritation.

“I got a painful blister on my heel because my new shoes were too tight.”

“The patient presented with a second-degree burn characterized by a large blister and significant redness.”

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'get', 'develop', or 'pop'.

Pitfall

I have a blister in my foot.

I have a blister on my foot.

Use the preposition 'on' to describe a blister's location on the surface of the skin.

Synonyms

blebvesiclebulla

02bubbles on a surface like paint or metal

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Technical

n. A small bubble that forms on the surface of something, like paint or a wall, often because of heat or moisture.

n. A defect in a surface coating or material characterized by a raised bubble, often caused by the expansion of trapped air, moisture, or gas.

“The old paint started to form a blister after the long, hot summer.”

“Improper application of the sealant led to a visible blister in the protective coating of the aircraft wing.”

Usage

Often used in construction, manufacturing, and DIY contexts.

03overheating of racing tyres

C1 · Advanced Countable noun FORMULA 1 Technical

n. A bubble that forms on a racing car tyre when the rubber gets too hot, which can make the car harder to drive.

n. A condition in motorsport where the internal temperature of a tyre carcass exceeds its limits, causing the rubber to delaminate and form a bubble on the tread surface.

“The driver had to slow down because a blister appeared on his front-left tyre.”

“The high track temperatures caused a significant blister on the rear tyres, forcing an early pit stop to avoid a blowout.”

Usage

Specific to Formula 1 and other high-performance motor racing contexts.

Synonyms

degradationdelaminationbubble

04bubbles in cooking liquids

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. A small bubble that rises to the top of a liquid when it is being heated or cooked.

n. A small pocket of air or steam that forms on the surface of a viscous liquid or dough during the heating process.

“Wait for a small blister to appear on the surface of the sauce before you turn down the heat.”

“The pastry developed a light blister during the baking process, indicating a perfectly aerated dough.”

Usage

Used in culinary instructions and food science.

Synonyms

bubbleair pocket

Real-World Examples

“Pike's case is unusual in that prison officials appeared to succeed in injecting the drugs into her with two syringes, causing her right arm to "turn purple" and her skin to blister at the injection sites, Spivey said.”
Reuters 1 Oct 2026
“Hector was swiftly taken to the hospital, where the blisters were drained, and his wounds were treated under general anesthesia to avert infection.”
BBC 30 Aug 2024
“Those red lumps and bumps then start to blister, and fill with a whitish fluid that looks like pus.”
BBC 24 May 2022
“A big blister had appeared, much too large to be caused by footwear.”
BBC 9 Dec 2020

Etymology

From Middle English blister, from Old French blestre, from a Germanic source. Compare Middle Dutch blyster (“swelling”), Old Norse blastr (“a blowing”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domains

CookingFORMULA 1MedicineScienceSports

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Occasional
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

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