Main Entry:: can·cer
Pronunciation:: \ˈkan(t)-sər\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Latin (genitive Cancri), literally, crab; akin to Greek karkinos crab, cancer
Date:: 14th century

1capitalized 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 Cancer2[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 tumors3: 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

Learn more about "cancer" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "cancer" in the Visual Thesaurus

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