cancer

3 entries found for cancer.
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cancer small-cell lung cancer Tropic of Cancer

Main Entry: can·cer
Pronunciation: 'kan(t)-s&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin (genitive Cancri), literally, crab; akin to Greek karkinos crab, 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 /'kan(t)s-r&s, 'kan(t)-s&-/ adjective
- can·cer·ous·ly adverb