rash¹ / rash/ • adj. displaying or proceeding from a lack of careful consideration of the possible consequences of an action: it would be extremely rash to make such an assumption a rash decision. DERIVATIVES: rash·ly adv. rash·ness n. rash² • n. an area of reddening of a person's skin, sometimes with raised spots, appearing esp. as a result of allergy or illness. ∎  a series of things of the same type, esp. when unpleasant or undesirable, occurring or appearing one after the other within a short space of time: a rash of auto accidents.

rash, nonspecific term for an eruption of the skin. It may result from skin allergy, skin irritation, or skin disease, or it may be a symptom of a systemic disease like measles, smallpox, or scarlet fever. A rash may appear as discolored spots or a general redness, or as blisters or pustules, either flat or raised above the surface of the skin. The rash may cause skin irritation—itching, tingling, burning, or pain—or it may not cause any discomfort. The appearance and distribution of a rash are often important factors for consideration in diagnosing a particular disease.

rash A skin eruption: red spots or mottling of the skin, accompanying a variety of infectious illnesses, allergic reactions, chemical or heat irritation, or specific skin diseases. Rashes may be localized or body-wide and come in several descriptive categories; their distribution and character usually enable doctors to establish the cause.

Stuart Judge

rash (rash) n. a temporary eruption on the skin, usually typified by reddening, which may be accompanied by itching. A rash may be a local skin reaction or the outward sign of a disorder affecting the body.

rash1 (dial.) active, brisk XIV; hasty or impetuous in action or behaviour XVI. OE. *ræsc = (M)Du. rasch, OHG. rasc (G. rasch), ON. rǫskr doughty, brave:- Gmc. *raskuz.

rash2 superficial eruption of the skin. XVIII. corr. in form to OF. ra(s)che skin eruption = It. raschia itch, but the late emergence of the word is against direct connection.

Rash

a splashing shower of rain; an unwelcome or unsightly outburst.

Examples : rash of dermatologists (modern )—Mensa Society ; of rain, 1470.

rash •abash, ash, Ashe, bash, brash, cache, calash, cash, clash, crash, dash, encash, flash, gash, gnash, hash, lash, mash, Nash, panache, pash, plash, rash, sash, slash, smash, soutache, splash, stash, thrash, trash •earbash • kurbash • calabash •slapdash • pebbledash • balderdash •spatterdash • backlash • backslash •whiplash • eyelash • goulash •newsflash • thunderflash • mishmash •gatecrash • Midrash • potash •succotash

RASH Meteorol. rain shower