Definition of "hives" []

• A skin condition characterized by intensely itching welts and caused by an allergic reaction to internal or external agents, an infection, or a nervous condition. Also called nettle rash, urticaria. (noun-plural)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "For those of you who break out in hives at the thought of learning a new markup language, try LyX, I've heard wonderful feedback about it."
• "A concern with hives is that they can get into your throat, making it difficult to breathe."
• "The second time I had broken out in hives from liquid soap over there, so I needed to go to a clinic to have it taken care of."