n.
Pronunciation: ' kan(t)-s ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin (gen. Cancri ), literally, crab; akin to Greek karkinos crab, cancer
Date: 14th century
1 capitalized a : a northern zodiacal constellation between Gemini and Leo b (1) : the fourth sign of the zodiac in astrology ― see ZODIAC table (2) : one born under the sign of Cancer
2 [Latin, crab, cancer] a : a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis b : an abnormal bodily state marked by such tumors
3 : something evil or malignant that spreads destructively <the cancer of hidden resentment ― Irish Digest >
4 a : an enlarged tumorlike plant growth (as that of crown gall) b : a plant disease marked by such growths
– can · cer · ous \ ' kan(t)s-r ə s, ' kan(t)-s ə - \ adjective
– can · cer · ous · ly adverb