n. 1. A painful localized bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that usually has several openings through which pus is discharged. 2. a. A red precious stone, especially a deep-red garnet cut as a cabochon. b. A mythical gemstone said to emit light even in total darkness. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin carbunculus, small glowing ember, carbuncle, diminutive of carbō, carbōn-, coal; see ker-3 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] carbun′cled adj. car·buncu·lar (-kyə-lər) adj. |
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