wart

noun \ˈwȯrt\

: a small, hard lump on the skin caused by a virus

: a defect or fault

Full Definition of WART

a : a horny projection on the skin usually of the extremities produced by proliferation of the skin papillae and caused by any of numerous human papillomaviruses —called also verruca vulgaris

b : any of numerous similar skin lesions not caused by viruses

: an excrescence or protuberance resembling a true wart; especially : a glandular excrescence or hardened protuberance on a plant

a : one that suggests a wart especially in smallness, unpleasantness, or unattractiveness

b : defect, imperfection —often used in the phrase warts and all

— wart·ed \ˈwȯr-təd\ adjective

— wart·less \ˈwȯrt-ləs\ adjective

— warty \ˈwȯr-tē\ adjective

See wart defined for English-language learners

See wart defined for kids

Origin of WART

Middle English, from Old English wearte; akin to Old High German warza wart, Old Church Slavic vrědŭ injury

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with WART

bort, court, fort, forte, mort, ort, port, Porte, quart, short, skort, snort, sort, sport, swart, thwart, tort, torte, wort

WART Defined for Kids

wart

noun \ˈwȯrt\

Definition of WART for Kids

: a small hard lump of thickened skin caused by a virus

Medical Dictionary

wart

noun \ˈwȯ(ə)rt\

Medical Definition of WART

: a horny projection on the skin usually of the extremities produced by proliferation of the skin papillae and caused by any of numerous genotypes of the human papillomavirus—see flat wart, genital wart, plantar wart, verruca vulgaris

: any of numerous warty skin lesions not caused by human papillomaviruses