fes·ter/`fɛstə; ˈfestə/ v [I] 1 if a bad situation or a problem festers, it continues to get worse and become more unpleasant over a long period 〔坏形势或问题〕恶化: centuries of festering anger and bitterness 数世纪的宿怨旧恨 2 if a wound festers, it becomes infected 〔伤口〕感染,化脓