canker

[kang-ker] /ˈkæŋ kər/
noun
1.
a gangrenous or ulcerous sore, especially in the mouth.
2.
a disease affecting horses' feet, usually the soles, characterized by a foul-smelling exudate.
3.
a defined area of diseased tissue, especially in woody stems.
4.
something that corrodes, corrupts, destroys, or irritates.
5.
Also called canker rose. British Dialect, dog rose.
verb (used with object)
6.
to infect with canker.
7.
to corrupt; destroy slowly.
verb (used without object)
8.
to become infected with or as if with canker.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English; Old English cancer < Latin cancer; see cancer
Synonyms
4. blight, cancer, scourge.
Examples from the web for canker
  • Citrus canker is a bacterial disease that causes lesions on the leaves, stems, and fruit of citrus trees.
  • Citrus canker is a highly contagious disease caused by a bacterium infecting only plants in the citrus family.
  • The purpose of this study is to examine how compounds produced in patients with canker sores affect wound healing.
British Dictionary definitions for canker

canker

/ˈkæŋkə/
noun
1.
an ulceration, esp of the lips or lining of the oral cavity
2.
(vet science)
  1. a disease of horses in which the horn of the hoofs becomes soft and spongy
  2. an inflammation of the lining of the external ear, esp in dogs and cats, resulting in a discharge and sometimes ulceration
  3. ulceration or abscess of the mouth, eyelids, ears, or cloaca of birds
3.
an open wound in the stem of a tree or shrub, caused by injury or parasites
4.
something evil that spreads and corrupts
verb
5.
to infect or become infected with or as if with canker
Word Origin
Old English cancer, from Latin cancer crab, cancerous sore
Word Origin and History for canker
n.

late Old English cancer "spreading ulcer, cancerous tumor," from Latin cancer "malignant tumor," literally "crab" (see cancer); influenced in Middle English by Old North French cancre "canker, sore, abscess" (Old French chancre, Modern French chancre). The word was the common one for "cancer" until c.1700. Also used since 15c. of caterpillars and insect larvae that eat plant buds and leaves. As a verb from late 14c. Related: Cankered; cankerous. Canker blossom is recorded from 1580s.

canker in Medicine

canker can·ker (kāng'kər)
n.

  1. Ulceration of the mouth and lips.

  2. An acute inflammation or infection of the ear and auditory canal, especially in dogs and cats.

  3. Cancrum.

canker in the Bible

a gangrene or mortification which gradually spreads over the whole body (2 Tim. 2:17). In James 5:3 "cankered" means "rusted" (R.V.) or tarnished.

Encyclopedia Article for canker

disease of plants that is caused by numerous species of fungi and bacteria. Symptoms include round-to-irregular, sunken, swollen, flattened, or cracked, discoloured, and dead areas on the stem (cane), twig, limb, or trunk. Cankers may enlarge and girdle a twig or branch, killing the foliage beyond it. They are most common on plants weakened by mechanical, winter, or insect injury; drought; nutritional imbalances; nematodes; and root rot.

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