Herpes Meaning
/ˈhɜː(ɹ).piz/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA viral infection, caused by Human alphaherpesvirus 1 and Human alphaherpesvirus 2, marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin or in the mucous membranes or on the genitals.
Sentence Examples
Male circumcision decreases the risk of viral infections that cause herpes and cancer.
She stayed inside during herpes outbreaks.
I wasn't expecting to get herpes in Australia.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor diagnosed the painful blisters on his lip as an outbreak of ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The doctor explained that ____ is a common viral infection that can cause painful sores on the skin.
Word Origin & History
From Latin herpēs, from Ancient Greek ἕρπης (hérpēs, “herpes”, literally “a creeping”), from ἕρπειν (hérpein, “to creep”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"This, of course, is something only people with that STI would know. For example, herpes is 437737."
— 2017 June 24, Arti Patel, “Dating with an STI: 7 ways to navigate the (often harsh) dating world”, in Global News:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor diagnosed the painful blisters on his lip as an outbreak of ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The doctor explained that ____ is a common viral infection that can cause painful sores on the skin.