0 a painful swollen area on or in the body that contains pus (= thick, yellow liquid):
She had an abscess on her gum.
1 a painful, swollen area in the body that contains pus (= a thick, yellow liquid)
He also had an axillary abscess that was duly drained.
The abscess was drained and antibiotic therapy was started.
Palpation of the abscess revealed it to be doughy, and it was oedematous and painful.
In contrast to the mandible, there are no caries or abscesses on the maxilla.
Although harmless most of the time, it can cause boils, abscesses and secondary infections in wounds.
Approximately 2% of our patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease have developed such abscesses.
Ailments of the mouth included moderate cavities, periodontal disease, and abscesses.
It is most important, therefore, to diagnose a brain abscess before neurologic symptoms develop.