canker
noun
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Definition of canker
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a(1) : an erosive or spreading sore
(2) : an area of necrosis in a plant also : a plant disease characterized by cankers Citrus canker is caused by bacteria.
b : any of various disorders of animals marked by chronic inflammatory changes
2 archaic : a caterpillar destructive to plants
3 chiefly dialectal : rust sense 1
4 : a source of corruption or debasement suspicion is a canker that … will consume and waste all love— R. Sibbes
5 chiefly dialectal : dog rose
canker
verb
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Definition of canker (Entry 2 of 2)
1 obsolete : to infect with a spreading sore
2 : to corrupt the spirit of a relationship cankered by jealousy
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Other Words from canker
Noun
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adjective
Synonyms & Antonyms for canker
Synonyms: Verb
abase, bastardize, cheapen, corrupt, debase, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, deteriorate, lessen, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, vitiate, warp
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of canker in a Sentence
Verb
such shameless ambulance chasing cankers the legal professionRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
On sycamores, the disease often infects branches, causing girdling cankers and dieback. — Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Fungal diseases may be cause of brown spots on tree leaves," 26 June 2018 Any trees that are affected year after year or develop cankers will be weakened. — Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Fungal diseases may be cause of brown spots on tree leaves," 26 June 2018 Cytospora canker is a disease of mature spruce trees, usually older than 15 years. — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, "Have a dying spruce tree? Fungus may be the culprit," 23 May 2018 The cankers are circular, discolored areas on the bark. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "Grow Healthy Food By Identifying + Treating These Common Plant Diseases," 21 July 2015 When entire lower branches on a spruce have died, the problem is more likely to be cytospora canker, Yiesla said. — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, "Have a dying spruce tree? Fungus may be the culprit," 23 May 2018 To control, plant resistant trees and cut out branches or trees with cankers. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "Grow Healthy Food By Identifying + Treating These Common Plant Diseases," 21 July 2015 Purple-leafed plums only live five to six years before peach tree borers and bacterial stem canker invade and kill them. — Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, "Browning spider plant could be fertilizer scorched," 25 May 2018 There is no treatment for cytospora canker, according to Yiesla. — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, "Have a dying spruce tree? Fungus may be the culprit," 23 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'canker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for canker
canker
noun
English Language Learners Definition of canker
: something that causes bad things to happen
: any of various plant diseases
See the full definition for canker in the English Language Learners Dictionary
canker
noun
\
Medical Definition of canker
1a(1) : an erosive or spreading sore
(2) obsolete : gangrene
b : canker sore
2a : a chronic inflammation of the ear in dogs, cats, or rabbits especially : a localized form of mange
b : a chronic and progressive inflammation of the deep horn-producing tissues of the frog and sole of the hooves of horses resulting in softening and destruction of the horny layers
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