Warty means covered with warts or having bumps that look like warts. A wart is a small, rough, raised bump on the skin, and when something has many of these bumps or similar lumps, we call it warty.

Toads are often described as warty because their skin has bumps all over it (though those bumps aren't actually warts, just glands). A warty gourd or pumpkin has a knobbly, bumpy surface instead of a smooth one. Tree bark might look warty if it's covered in rough, raised spots.

The word can describe actual warts on skin, or anything that reminds you of that bumpy, lumpy texture. You might find a warty old stick in the woods, covered in rough knobs and protrusions. Scientists sometimes describe plant growths or fungi as warty when they have that characteristic bumpy appearance.

While warty isn't usually a compliment when describing appearance, it's simply a factual description. Many perfectly healthy and interesting creatures, like certain types of toads and newts, have naturally warty skin that helps them survive in their environments.