hives: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Medical/Everyday
Quick answer
What does “hives” mean?
A skin rash characterised by itchy red or white raised welts, typically triggered by an allergic reaction.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A skin rash characterised by itchy red or white raised welts, typically triggered by an allergic reaction.
1. The medical condition urticaria. 2. (Verb, third person singular: hive) To cause to swarm, gather, or store, as in a hive; to live crowdedly. 3. (Rare/Historical) Structures housing bees.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both varieties, 'hives' is the common term for urticaria. 'Nettle rash' is a more common British synonym. The verb 'hive' is equally rare in both.
Connotations
Primarily medical/neutral. In everyday use, it strongly connotes allergic reaction and discomfort.
Frequency
Medical term with moderate frequency; common in contexts discussing allergies, health, and childcare.
Grammar
How to Use “hives” in a Sentence
NP __ (e.g., The child developed hives.)NP V __ (e.g., Strawberries give me hives.)NP V PREP __ (e.g., She broke out in hives.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hives” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company decided to hive off its manufacturing division.
- Bees were hiving in the hollow tree.
American English
- The university hived off the research institute into a separate entity.
- The crowd hived around the entrance.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use for 'hives')
American English
- (No standard adverbial use for 'hives')
adjective
British English
- Hive-related activities are central to apiculture. (Rare)
- A hive mind is a shared collective consciousness.
American English
- The hive structure was made of wax. (Rare)
- She studied hive behaviour in social insects.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in 'hive off' (corporate divestment).
Academic
In medical/biological texts discussing dermatology or immunology.
Everyday
Common when discussing allergic reactions, children's illnesses, or stress symptoms.
Technical
Specific dermatological term for urticaria, detailing causes (histamine release) and treatments.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hives”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hives”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hives”
- Using 'hive' (singular) for the medical condition (incorrect: *I have a hive; correct: I have hives).
- Confusing 'hives' with other rashes like eczema or poison ivy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is plural in form but often used with a singular verb when referring to the medical condition (e.g., 'Hives is uncomfortable'). The singular 'a hive' refers to a beehive or a crowded place.
Hives (urticaria) are specifically raised, itchy welts that often appear and disappear quickly, moving around the body. They are typically caused by an allergic response. Other rashes like eczema are more chronic and present as dry, scaly patches.
Yes, but it's less common. 'To hive' means to gather or put into a hive. More frequently, the phrasal verb 'hive off' is used to mean separating a part of an organisation.
No, hives themselves are not contagious. They are a reaction of an individual's immune system to a trigger (allergen, stress, etc.) and cannot be passed to another person.
A skin rash characterised by itchy red or white raised welts, typically triggered by an allergic reaction.
Hives is usually medical/everyday in register.
Hives: in British English it is pronounced /haɪvz/, and in American English it is pronounced /haɪvz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to hive off (to separate a part of a business or organisation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a hive of bees; their stings cause itchy, raised bumps on the skin, just like allergic hives.
Conceptual Metaphor
SKIN AS A MAP OF STRESS/REACTION (The skin 'maps out' internal allergic reactions with raised welts).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most precise synonym for the medical condition 'hives'?