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nevus

/ˈnivəs/
IPA guide

Other forms: nevi

A nevus is a mark on the skin, like a mole or a birthmark. Many people are born with a nevus somewhere on their bodies. Can you find yours?

Whether you have a strawberry birthmark on your cheek, or a series of tiny moles dotting your shoulders, you can say you have a nevus. This word is most often used by doctors, including dermatologists (skin doctors), who like to keep an eye on nevi (which is the plural form of nevus). Every once in a while, a nevus will develop a malignancy, or become cancerous. The Latin root of nevus is gnaevus, "born in," or "birthmark."

Definitions of nevus
  1. noun
    a blemish on the skin that is formed before birth
    synonyms: birthmark
    see moresee less
    types:
    nevus flammeus, port-wine stain
    a flat birthmark varying from pink to purple
    type of:
    blemish, defect, mar
    a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body)
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