n. 1 a any malignant growth or tumour from an abnormal and uncontrolled division of body cells. b a disease caused by this. 2 an evil influence or corruption spreading uncontrollably. 3 (Cancer) a a constellation, traditionally regarded as contained in the figure of a crab. b the fourth sign of the zodiac (the Crab). c a person born when the sun is in this sign. cancer stick sl. a cigarette. Tropic of Cancer see TROPIC. Cancerian n. & adj. (in sense 3). cancerous adj.
[ ME f. L, = crab, cancer, after Gk karkinos ]