canker

can·ker  (kngkr)

n.

1. Ulceration of the mouth and lips.

2. An inflammation or infection of the ear and auditory canal, especially in dogs and cats.

3. A condition in horses similar to but more advanced than thrush.

4.

a. A localized diseased or necrotic area on a plant part, especially on a trunk, branch, or twig of a woody plant, usually caused by fungi or bacteria.

b. Any of several diseases of plants characterized by the presence of such lesions.

5. A source of spreading corruption or decay.

v. can·kered, can·ker·ing, can·kers

v.tr.

1. To attack or infect with canker.

2. To infect with corruption or decay.

v.intr.

To become infected with or as if with canker.

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[Middle English, from Old English cancer and from Old French cancre, both from Latin cancer, crab, malignant disease; see kar- in Indo-European roots.]

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canker

Noun

1. an ulceration or ulcerous disease

2. something evil that spreads and corrupts [Latin cancer cancerous sore]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	canker - a fungal disease of woody plants that causes localized damage to the bark plant disease - a disease that affects plants
	2.	canker - an ulceration (especially of the lips or lining of the mouth) canker sore ulcer, ulceration - a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue
	3.	canker - a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of; "racism is a pestilence at the heart of the nation"; "according to him, I was the canker in their midst" pestilence influence - a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do; "her wishes had a great influence on his thinking"
Verb	1.	canker - become infected with a canker sicken, come down - get sick; "She fell sick last Friday, and now she is in the hospital"
	2.	canker - infect with a canker infect - communicate a disease to; "Your children have infected you with this head cold"