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Definitions

cold sore

NOUN
mouth ulcer
Synonyms
WEAK
canker canker sore fever blister herpes labialis herpes simplex lesion oral herpes

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It can be caused by a number of viruses - including HSV-1, also known as the cold sore virus.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Hundreds of readers report that taking L-lysine at the first tingle of a cold sore can also be highly effective.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2024

The prospect of suffering “post-infective syndrome” after a bout of flu or a cold sore doesn’t send people into a protective bubble, he added.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2023

"Pastina is the cure for any cold, sore throat or sniffle," Ali Abene Dahlhaus wrote on Facebook.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2023

But he was grinning at me, his tongue on his cold sore, his hand rising again.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken