boil

views updated

boil (boil) n. a tender inflamed area of the skin containing pus. The infection is usually caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which enters through a hair follicle or a break in the skin. Boils usually heal when the pus is released or with antibiotic treatment, though occasionally they may cause more widespread infection. Medical name: furuncle.

More From encyclopedia.com