See Also: cancer, causes(medicine)
Causes of cancer(health)
Cancer(health)
cancer(1)(dictionary)
Cancer(medicine)
cancer(2)(dictionary)
causes of cancer(medicine)
cancer(dictionary)
Cancer(encyclopedia)
Cancer causes(health)

cancer(1) (iou)



cancer noun. OE.
[Latin = crab, creeping ulcer, after Greek karkinos: cf. CANKER noun, CARCINOMA.]
1. (Cancer.) (The name of) an inconspicuous constellation of the northern hemisphere, on the ecliptic between Gemini and Leo; Astrology (the name of) the fourth zodiacal sign, usu. associated with the period 22 June to 22 July (see note s.v. ZODIAC); the Crab. OE.
tropic of Cancer: see TROPIC noun & adjective.
attrib.: E. Kirk The Cancer men are far more constant than the Cancer women.
b. A person born under the sign Cancer. M20.
2. A malignant tumour or growth of body tissue that tends to spread and may recur if removed; disease in which such a growth occurs. Cf. CANKER noun 1 (the usual form until 17). OE.
soft cancer: see SOFT adjective.
b. fig. An evil spreading in the manner of a cancer. M17.
M. L. King A dangerous cancer of hatred and racism in our society.
3. A crab. E17-L18.
Comb.: cancer bush S. Afr. a leguminous shrub, Sutherlandia frutescens, cultivated for its red flowers; cancer-root broomrape; cancer stick slang a cigarette; cancer-wort fluellen.
Cancerian noun & adjective (a) noun a person born under the sign Cancer; (b) adjective of or pertaining to the sign Cancer; (characteristic of one) born under Cancer: E20.
canceri'cidal,
cancero'cidal adjectives tending to destroy cancer cells M20.