cold sore

noun

1. a vesicular eruption on the face, usually on or near the mouth, often accompanying a cold or a febrile condition; herpes simplex.

cold sore

noun

1. a cluster of blisters at the margin of the lips that sometimes accompanies the common cold, caused by a viral infection Technical nameherpes labialis

Word History and Origins

Origin of cold sore¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

In her two years of life she’s spent quite a bit of time at the vet, for eye infections and painful cold sores, among other things.

From Los Angeles Times

Q: All through high school, I suffered from cold sores.

From Seattle Times

The prospect of suffering “post-infective syndrome” after a bout of flu or a cold sore doesn’t send people into a protective bubble, he added.

From Los Angeles Times

Amazon Clinic asks you to enter really personal information, including details and photographs of conditions such as hair loss, cold sores and pinkeye.

From Washington Post

Initially the scientists wanted to determine whether any wild gorillas were infected with herpes simplex 1 virus, which causes cold sores in people.

From Washington Post