Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The act of fomenting; incitement.
  • noun A substance or material used as a warm, moist medicinal compress; a poultice.
  • noun The therapeutic application of warmth and moisture, as to relieve pain.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of heating, warming, or cherishing; warmth.
  • noun In medicine: The act of applying warm liquids to a part of the body, by means of flannels or other cloths dipped in them.
  • noun The liquid thus applied.
  • noun Excitation; instigation; encouragement.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act of fomenting; the application of warm, soft, medicinal substances, as for the purpose of easing pain, by relaxing the skin, or of discussing tumors.
  • noun The lotion applied to a diseased part.
  • noun Excitation; instigation; encouragement.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The act of fomenting; the application of warm, soft, medicinal substances, as for the purpose of easing pain, by relaxing the skin, or of discussing tumors.
  • noun The lotion applied to a diseased part.
  • noun Excitation; instigation; encouragement.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun deliberate and intentional triggering (of trouble or discord)
  • noun a substance used as a warm moist medicinal compress or poultice
  • noun application of warm wet coverings to a part of the body to relieve pain and inflammation

Etymologies

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Examples

Comments

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  • "'...unless or until we can fashion and ship a rudder...'

    'If you spend another two minutes up to your neck in water at this temperature, striving to do so, I will not answer for your life,' said Stephen. 'Last time it was nip and tuck, with hot blanket, fomentations, and half a pint of my best brandy.'"

    --P. O'Brian, The Wine-Dark Sea, 256

    March 16, 2008