Hives is a medical word for an itchycausing a strong desire to scratch skin rash that appears as raised red weltsswollen marks or bumps on the skin, often caused by an allergicrelated to an immune response to something harmless reaction.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /haɪvz/
Easy pronunciation: HIVES (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; the full word is stressed.
Pronounced for the noun meaning an itchy allergic skin rash.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hives Meaning
an itchy allergic skin rash
Part of speech: noun
Definition: An itchy skin eruption made up of raised welts with pale centers and red edges, usually caused by an allergic reaction to something like food, medicine, or insect bites.
Example: After eating shellfish, she broke out in hives.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- urticaria — Medical term for the same rash.
- nettle rash — Common British term for the same condition.
- urtication — Listed as a synonym in the source data, though less common in everyday use.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hives Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- urticaria
- nettle rash
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse hives with a beehive or an animal nest.
- Hives is usually plural in form, but it refers to one skin condition.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hives mean?
Hives means an itchy skin rash with raised red welts, often caused by an allergic reaction.
What are synonyms for hives?
Common synonyms include urticaria and nettle rash. Urtication is also listed in source data, but it is less common.
Is hives the same as an allergy?
Not exactly. Hives are a possible reaction to an allergy or irritant, but hives themselves are the rash, not the allergy.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.