lesion

/ˈliʒən/

/ˈliʒən/

Other forms: lesions

A lesion is an injury to the living tissue on your body, like your skin or an organ. Usually a lesion involves a break or wound to the skin, so protect it with a bandage so that it heals quickly.

Lesion, pronounced "LEE-zhun," comes from the Latin word laesionem meaning "injury." Lesions on the skin are usually not very nice to look at, the kind of wounds that might make you grimace — things like open sores, cuts, deep scrapes or puss-filled gashes. Lesions also are a concern of doctors because if lesions develop without explanation, it can be a sign that your immune system is dangerously weak.

Definitions of lesion

1. noun

   any localized abnormal structural change in a bodily part
   types:

   tubercle

   a swelling that is the characteristic lesion of tuberculosis

   ulcer, ulceration

   a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue

   aphthous ulcer

   a blister on the mucous membranes of the lips or mouth or gastrointestinal tract

   bedsore, decubitus ulcer, pressure sore

   a chronic ulcer of the skin caused by prolonged pressure on it (as in bedridden patients)

   chancroid

   infectious venereal ulcer

   peptic ulcer, peptic ulceration

   an ulcer of the mucous membrane lining of the alimentary tract

   canker, canker sore

   an ulceration (especially of the lips or lining of the mouth)

   noli-me-tangere

   a cancerous ulcer of soft tissue and bone

   noma

   acute ulceration of the mucous membranes of the mouth or genitals; often seen in undernourished children

   type of:

   pathology

   any deviation from a healthy or normal condition
2. noun

   an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
   synonyms: wound

   types:

   raw wound

   a wound that exposes subcutaneous tissue

   stigmata

   marks resembling the wounds on the crucified body of Christ

   abrasion, excoriation, scrape, scratch

   an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off

   cut, gash, slash, slice

   a wound made by cutting

   laceration

   a torn ragged wound

   bite

   a wound resulting from biting by an animal or a person

   graze

   a superficial abrasion

   rope burn

   abrasion (usually on the hands) caused by friction from a rope

   dog bite

   a bite inflicted by a dog

   snakebite

   a bite inflicted by a (venomous) snake

   type of:

   harm, hurt, injury, trauma

   any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.