: 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 alsoverruca vulgaris
b
: any of numerous similar skin lesions not caused by viruses
2
: an excrescence or protuberance resembling a true wart
especially: a glandular excrescence or hardened protuberance on a plant
3
a
: one that suggests a wart especially in smallness, unpleasantness, or unattractiveness
Recent Examples on the WebBrown and wart-covered, four poisonous individuals stared out of their tank with a torpidity that belied the havoc their species has wrought. Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 26 May 2022 For quicker results, a dermatologist can burn off a wart with liquid nitrogen or remove it surgically.Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2021 In the Mach-E, however, there is a camera wart on the steering column. K.c. Colwell, Car and Driver, 6 Aug. 2021 They are intended to increase the immune system activity locally in and around the wart. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 8 June 2021 The unraveling inning revealed another Padres offensive wart. Bryce Miller Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2021 My finger looked like a huge, black, puss-oozing wart. Keith Mccafferty, Field & Stream, 23 July 2014 But as happens so often during the draft process, warts began to appear on the top prospect. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 22 Apr. 2020 The hair on his head sprouted in clumps; his face and hands were covered in warts.The Economist, 28 Jan. 2020 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English wearte; akin to Old High German warza wart, Old Church Slavonic vrědŭ injury
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of wart was before the 12th century