aphtha noun. ['afƟǝ] Pl. -thae [-Ɵi:]. M17.
[Latin from Greek, mostly in pl.; connected with haptein set on fire.]
Medicine. A small usu. white ulcer occurring in groups in the mouth or on the tongue; rare the occurrence of such ulcers. Usu. in pl.

► Orig. applied esp. to the ulcers associated with candidiasis, but now usu. excluding these.

■ aphthous adjective of the nature of or characterized by aphthae M18.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲