cancer
noun
Irish Digest
Did you know?
The Latin word cancer, meaning “crab,” was also given as a name to several diseases. One of the diseases was the abnormal, spreading mass of tissue we call a tumor. A possible explanation for this extended use of cancer is that the Romans thought some tumors looked like many-legged crabs. A French descendant of this Latin word was borrowed into English as canker. It is now applied to several plant and animal disorders. In the 14th century the Latin word cancer in the sense of “tumor” was borrowed directly into English, giving us our modern spelling and sense.
Examples of cancer in a Sentence
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
The agency’s $48 billion budget funds medical research on cancers, vaccines and other diseases through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation.
—Aleccia Washington, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
BFRs are linked to a host of adverse health effects including endocrine, liver and kidney toxicity, cancer, adverse effects of fetal and child development, and more, according to The National Institute of Health Sciences.
—Kristin Hostetter, Outside Online, 13 Nov. 2024
He was joined by William and Princess Kate, who has slowly returned to public duties following her treatment for cancer.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near cancer
Cite this Entry
“Cancer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cancer. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cancer
noun
Middle English Cancer "'Crab' star group," from Latin cancer "crab, cancer (disease)"; sense 3 directly from Latin cancer "crab, cancer" — related to canker, chancre
Medical Definition
cancer
noun
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