birthmark
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A congenital mark on the skin: A "birthmark" is a benign, irregular area of skin that is present at birth or appears shortly after. It is caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels, pigment cells, or other skin structures.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The baby had a small, red birthmark on her shoulder.
- Some birthmarks fade over time, while others remain permanent.
- He considered his distinctive birthmark a unique part of his identity.
Advanced Usage
"Port-wine stain": A specific type of birthmark that is a flat, red or purple mark caused by dilated blood capillaries.
- The port-wine stain birthmark on her face was treated with laser therapy.
"Strawberry mark" (or hemangioma): A common type of birthmark that appears as a bright red, raised patch.
- The infant's strawberry mark grew larger during the first year before gradually fading.
Variants and Related Words
- Nevus (plural: nevi): The medical term for a mole, which is a common type of pigmented birthmark.
- The dermatologist examined the pigmented nevus to ensure it was benign.
Synonyms
- Naevus (chiefly British English spelling of "nevus").
- Beauty mark: Sometimes used colloquially for a small, dark birthmark, especially on the face, considered aesthetically pleasing.
Related Phrases
- "Marked from birth": An idiomatic expression suggesting a destiny or characteristic present from the very beginning, sometimes alluding to a physical birthmark.
- His talent for music was so profound, it was as if he was marked from birth.
Notes on Meaning
- A "birthmark" is specifically a blemish present from birth or infancy. It is not an acquired mark like a scar, tattoo, or sunspot.
- While often harmless, the term "birthmark" is a general, non-medical descriptor. Specific types have precise medical names (e.g., hemangioma, café-au-lait spot, Mongolian spot).
Noun
- a blemish on the skin that is formed before birth