# blister

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈblɪstə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #28,840

## Definitions
1. A small bubble between the layers of the skin that contains watery or bloody fluid and is caused by friction and pressure, burning, freezing, chemical irritation, disease, or infection.
2. A swelling on a plant.
3. Something applied to the skin to raise a blister; a vesicatory or other applied medicine.
4. A bubble, as on a painted surface.
5. An enclosed pocket of air, which may be mixed with water or solvent vapor, trapped between impermeable layers of felt or between the membrane and substrate.
6. A type of pre-formed packaging made from plastic that contains cavities.
7. A cause of annoyance.
8. A form of smelted copper with a blistered surface.

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

## Easily confused with
- **buster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blister-vs-buster)
- **booster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blister-vs-booster)
- **bolster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blister-vs-bolster)
- **bluster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blister-vs-bluster)
- **blitzer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blister-vs-blitzer)
- **biter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/biter-vs-blister)
- **bitter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bitter-vs-blister)
- **blasted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blasted-vs-blister)
- **blaster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blaster-vs-blister)
- **blatter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/blatter-vs-blister)

## Common misspellings (11)
`bblister`, `bilster`, `blisetr`, `blisster`, `blisterr`, `blistre`, `blistter`, `blitser`, `bllister`, `blsiter`, `lbister`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/blister