n. [ L., fr. Gr. "e`rphs, fr. "e`rpein to creep. ] (Med.) An eruption of the skin, taking various names, according to its form, or the part affected, caused by a herpesvirus infection; especially, an eruption of vesicles in small distinct clusters, accompanied with itching or tingling, including shingles, ringworm, and the like; -- so called from its tendency to creep or spread from one part of the skin to another. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. (Med.) either of two forms of herpesvirus infection, distinguished as being caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes mostly sores and eruptions around the mouth (cold sores and fever blisters) and at other points above the waist, and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), causing genital herpes. HSV-1 is also known in some cases to cause genital herpes infections. [ PJC ]

n. A genus of carnivores including the mongooses.
Syn. -- genus Herpestes. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Med.) any of several dozen DNA-containing virus of the family Herpetoviridae, including among them such human-disease-causing agents as Herpes simplex virus causing oral and genital herpes, varicella-zoster virus (Herpes zoster virus) causing shingles and chickenpox (varicella), Epstein-Barr virus (EB virus) causing infectious mononucleosis, and Cytomegalovirus. [ PJC ]

n. (Med.) same as shingles; -- a form of herpes caused by the varicella-zoster virus. [ PJC ]

n. (Med.) same as varicella-zoster virus. [ PJC ]

a. [ Cf. F. herpétique. ] Pertaining to, or resembling, the herpes; partaking of the nature of herpes; as, herpetic eruptions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Herpes. ] (Med.) See Dartrous diathesis, under Dartrous.

{ } a. Pertaining to herpetology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in herpetology, or the natural history of reptiles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also, but less properly, erpetology. ] [ Gr. &unr_; a creeping thing, reptile (fr. &unr_; to creep) + -logy: cf. F. herpétologie. ] The natural history of reptiles; that branch of Zoology which relates to reptiles, including their structure, classification, and habits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who dissects, or studies the anatomy of, reptiles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; a reptile + &unr_; to cut. ] The anatomy or dissection of reptiles. [ 1913 Webster ]