fester

/ˈfestə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfestər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfe-stər/ (ame, mw)

fester — verb

  • festerpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • festershe / she / it
  • festeredpast simple
  • festering-ing form

1. of a cut or injured place, to get badly infected and begin filling with or leaki

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

of a cut or injured place, to get badly infected and begin filling with or leaking pus.

例句

By Friday, the scrape on Noor's knee had festered under the dirty bandage.

a scrape on [body part] had festered

A blister on Christopher's heel festered after three wet days on the trail.

a blister on [body part] festered

同義詞
反義詞
  • heal

    improves instead of becoming infected

  • close up

    used when the skin joins together instead of worsening

文法句型

[cut/wound/bite] + fester

fester under + bandage/dressing

fester because + treatment is delayed

用法筆記

Usually used of cuts, bites, sores, and other damaged skin. It often suggests the injury has been left dirty, untreated, or covered too long.

常見錯誤

❌The dirty bandage festered the cut.
✅The cut festered under the dirty bandage.
💡'fester' normally describes the wound itself, not what caused the infection.

2. of anger, distrust, or an unsettled problem, to remain hidden and grow more pain

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

of anger, distrust, or an unsettled problem, to remain hidden and grow more painful because nobody deals with it.

例句

Old anger festered after the brothers stopped speaking at their father's funeral.

anger festered after + unresolved event

The pay dispute festered for months in the factory lunchroom.

a dispute festered for + time period

同義詞
  • rankle

    focuses more on one person's continuing hurt or offence

  • smolder

    suggests quiet anger ready to flare up

  • worsen

    more general and less vivid

反義詞
  • heal

    used when a relationship or feeling improves

  • settle

    used when a dispute is resolved

文法句型

[anger/resentment/dispute] + fester

fester for + time period

let + resentment/jealousy + fester

用法筆記

Usually used of resentment, distrust, jealousy, or a dispute that nobody resolves. Distinguish from sense 1: nothing physical is infected here; the damage is emotional or social.

常見錯誤

❌Their anger festered them for years.
✅Their anger festered for years.
💡this sense is normally intransitive, so the unresolved feeling or conflict is the subject.

3. to decay into a wet, foul-smelling mess as it breaks down.

3.動詞不及物C2
釋義

to decay into a wet, foul-smelling mess as it breaks down.

例句

Seaweed festered in the harbour after the storm pushed it ashore.

festered in + place after + event

The pile of potatoes festered behind the shed during the humid August heat.

festered behind + place

同義詞
  • rot

    more general and the most common choice

  • decay

    neutral and less vivid about smell

  • putrefy

    technical and stronger

反義詞

文法句型

[food/plants/carcass] + fester

fester in + heat/damp place

fester until + smell spreads

用法筆記

Used of decaying matter left in heat or damp conditions. Unlike sense 1, the thing itself is rotting rather than an injury on living skin.

常見錯誤

❌The rubbish was festering with a bad smell.
✅The rubbish was festering and smelled bad.
💡'fester' already includes the idea of decaying in an unpleasant way.

fester — noun