[kan-ser] 
[kang-kree] for 3. | 1. | Pathology.
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| 2. | any evil condition or thing that spreads destructively; blight. |
| 3. | (initial capital letter ) Astronomy. the Crab, a zodiacal constellation between Gemini and Leo. |
| 4. | (initial capital letter) Astrology.
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| 5. | (initial capital letter) tropic of. See under tropic (def. 1a). |
| can·cer (kān'sər) n.
[Middle English; see canker.] can'cer·ous (kān'sər-əs) adj. |
| Can·cer (kān'sər) n. In all senses also called Crab.
[Middle English, from Latin; see canker.] |
A disease characterized by rapid growth of cells in the body, often in the form of a tumor. Cancer is invasive — that is, it can spread to surrounding tissues. Although this disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, research has provided considerable insight into its many causes (which may include diet, viruses, or environmental factors) and options for treatment (which include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and possibly gene therapy).
Note: The term cancer is often used to describe a nonmedical condition that is undesirable, destructive, and invasive: “Watergate was a cancer on the presidency.”
cancer can·cer (kān'sər)
n.
Abbr. CA Any of various malignant neoplasms characterized by the proliferation of anaplastic cells that tend to invade surrounding tissue and metastasize to new body sites.
The pathological condition characterized by such growths.
