Meaning & use
welt
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Meanings
nouncountable
A raised, often red mark on the skin left by a blow, sting or allergic reaction.
Grammar: Countable: a welt, red welts.
Patterns
- a welt on something
- welts from something
The mosquito bites left itchy welts all over her arms.
A red welt rose on his leg where the branch had struck him.
The doctor said the welts were caused by an allergic reaction.
nouncountablespecialist
A strip of leather or other material sewn between the upper part of a shoe and its sole.
Grammar: Countable and used in shoemaking: a Goodyear welt.
Patterns
- the welt of a shoe
A welted shoe has a welt stitched around the edge so that the sole can be replaced.
The cobbler repaired a torn welt on his boots.
Quality boots usually have a strong welt rather than glue.
nouncountablespecialist
A raised seam or reinforced edge on a piece of clothing or upholstery.
Grammar: Countable and used in sewing.
Patterns
- a welt on something
The tailor added a welt along the edge of the pocket.
A welt seam gives the cushion a firm neat edge.
The knitted cuff finished with a narrow welt.
Word forms
| plural | welts |
|---|
Common combinations
- raise a welt
- The whip raised a welt across his back.
- an angry red welt
- An angry red welt appeared where the wasp had stung her.
- welts on the skin
- Hives caused itchy welts on the skin.
- a leather welt
- A leather welt joins the upper to the sole.
- a Goodyear welt
- His shoes were made with a Goodyear welt.
Synonyms and how they differ
- weal
- Weal is a mainly British word for a raised mark on the skin and is slightly more formal.
- bump
- Bump is less precise and can be any rounded swelling, with no suggestion of a streak or stripe.
- hive
- A hive is a welt specifically from an allergic reaction, and people usually speak of them in the plural.
- bruise
- A bruise is a discolored area under the skin that is not necessarily raised, which a welt is.
Word family
Commonly confused: welt or wilt?
welt vs wilt
To wilt is to droop, as a plant does; a welt is a mark on the skin.
Practice
A raised red ___ appeared on her arm after the insect sting.
Choose one answer.
A welt is a raised mark on the skin. Weld means to join metal, so it does not describe a skin reaction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “welt”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.