ENGLISH
REFERENCE

boils

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈbɔɪɫz// UK //bˈɔɪlz// boils

n. painful, red bumps on the skin that are filled with pus. They usually happen when a hair or a pore gets infected.

n. painful, pus-filled inflammations of the skin caused by a bacterial infection of a hair follicle or sebaceous gland. Technically known as furuncles.


SIMPLE

The doctor treated the painful boils on his neck.

CONTEXTUAL

If left untreated, these boils can become quite large and require a professional to drain them safely.

COMPLEX

The historical account describes a plague characterized by high fevers and the sudden appearance of painful boils across the limbs, suggesting a severe bacterial outbreak among the population.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Usually appears in the plural when referring to the medical condition.

© 2026 English Reference