Meaning & Definition of word "Canker"
Canker
/ˈkæŋ.kər/
noun:
- 1. a fungal disease affecting plants, especially trees, characterized by the formation of cankers on the bark or wood.
- Example: The apple tree suffered from canker, causing its branches to die off.
- 2. a sore or ulcer, particularly in the mouth.
- Example: She developed a painful canker on her tongue.
- 3. something that corrupts or destroys.
- Example: Greed can be a canker that ruins relationships.
verb:
- 1. to infect with canker or disease.
- Example: The gardener feared that the soil might canker the healthy plants.
Etymology
●Middle English, from Old North French cancre, which means crab or cancer.
Common Phrases and Expressions
canker sore:
A painful sore in the mouth.
canker in the soul:
A profound moral decay or corruption.
Related Words
ulcer:
A break in the skin or a mucous membrane with loss of surface tissue.
blight:
A plant disease, typically one caused by fungi.
Slang Meanings of canker
Meaning: Something annoying or bothersome.
● Example Sentence: That guy is such a canker, always complaining.
Meaning: A bad habit or negative influence.
● Example Sentence: Social media can be a canker on one's mental health.