canker

Definitions


[ˈkaŋkə], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a destructive fungal disease of apple and other trees that results in damage to the bark
(e.g: cut out lesions on branches caused by canker)

- an ulcerous condition or disease of a human or animal

- a malign and corrupting influence that is difficult to eradicate
(e.g: racism remains a canker at the heart of the nation)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English cancer (denoting a tumour), from Latin cancer ‘crab’ (see cancer); subsequently reinforced by Old French chancre


[ˈkaŋkə], (Verb)

Definitions:
- (of a plant or part of a plant) become infected with canker
(e.g: the tree is apt to canker in poor soils)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English cancer (denoting a tumour), from Latin cancer ‘crab’ (see cancer); subsequently reinforced by Old French chancre




definition by Oxford Dictionaries