First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
cancer
noun can·cer \ˈkan(t)-sər\
: a serious disease caused by cells that are not normal and that can spread to one or many parts of the body
: something bad or dangerous that causes other bad things to happen
Cancer : the fourth sign of the zodiac that comes between Gemini and Leo and has a crab as its symbol
Full Definition of CANCER
1
capitalized a : a northern zodiacal constellation between Gemini and Leo b (1) : the fourth sign of the zodiac in astrology — see zodiac table (2) : one born under the sign of Cancer
2
[Latin, crab, cancer] a : a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis b : an abnormal bodily state marked by such tumors
3
: something evil or malignant that spreads destructively <the cancer of hidden resentment — Irish Digest>
4
a : an enlarged tumorlike plant growth (as that of crown gall) b : a plant disease marked by such growths
— can·cer·ous \ˈkan(t)s-rəs, ˈkan(t)-sə-\ adjective
— can·cer·ous·ly adverb
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Origin of CANCER
Middle English, from Latin (genitive Cancri), literally, crab; akin to Greek karkinos crab, cancer
Other Medicine Terms
CANCER Defined for Kids
cancer
noun can·cer \ˈkan-sər\
Definition of CANCER for Kids
: a serious sometimes deadly disease characterized by the growth of abnormal cells that form tumors which may damage or destroy normal body tissue
Medical Dictionary
cancer
noun can·cer \ˈkan(t)-sər\
Medical Definition of CANCER
1
: a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis
2
: an abnormal state marked by a cancer
—can·cer·ous \ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs\ adjective
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