her·pes (hûr p z)n. Any of several viral diseases causing the eruption of small blisterlike vesicles on the skin or mucous membranes, especially herpes simplex or herpes zoster.
[Middle English, from Latin herp s, from Greek, from herpein, to creep.]
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herpes [her-peez] Noun
any of several inflammatory skin diseases, including shingles and cold sores [Greek herpein to creep]
herpes (hûr p z) Any of several infections caused by the herpes simplex virus of the genus Simplexvirus or by the varicella-zoster virus, a herpes virus of the genus Varicellavirus. Herpes infections are characterized by painful blisters on the skin or a mucous membrane and are highly contagious. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. Varicella-zoster infection is also called shingles. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | herpes - viral diseases causing eruptions of the skin or mucous membraneherpes simplex - an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus; affects the skin and nervous system; produces small temporary (but sometimes painful) blisters on the skin and mucous membranes |
| 2. | herpes - any of the animal viruses that cause painful blisters on the skinEBV, Epstein-Barr virus - the herpes virus that causes infectious mononucleosis; associated with specific cancers in Africa and China CMV, cytomegalovirus - any of a group of herpes viruses that enlarge epithelial cells and can cause birth defects; can affect humans with impaired immunological systems |