/ ˌɜːtɪˈkeəriə; NAmE ˌɜːrtɪˈkeriə/ (also nettle·rash , hives ) noun
[ U ] ( medical ) red spots on the skin that itch (= make you want to scratch) , caused by an allergic reaction, for example to certain foods
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: modern Latin , from Latin urtica nettle, from urere to burn.