Hives is the name given to a common form of allergic reaction. Hives generally take the form of a series of large angry red and swollen welts on the skin. They are often caused by direct contact with an allergenic substance (generally a plant, such as poison ivy), but they can also be an immune response to food or some other allergen. Hives can also be caused by severe stress.
A hive is also the common name for a colony of bees or for the shelter built for or by the bees. See beehive.
For the rock band, see the Hives.