Cancer: meaning, definitions and examples

♋️
Add to dictionary

cancer

 

[ ˈkænsər ]

Context #1 | Noun

disease

A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Cancer can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Synonyms

carcinoma, neoplasm, tumor

Examples of usage

  • Her father was diagnosed with lung cancer last year.
  • The doctor recommended chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer.
  • Early detection is crucial for successful treatment of cancer.
Context #2 | Noun

astrology

A sign of the zodiac, which represents those born between June 21 and July 22. Cancer is associated with the element of water and ruled by the Moon.

Synonyms

Crab

Examples of usage

  • Her zodiac sign is Cancer.
  • People born under the sign of Cancer are believed to be sensitive and intuitive.

Translations

Translations of the word "cancer" in other languages:

🇵🇹 câncer

🇮🇳 कैंसर

🇩🇪 Krebs

🇮🇩 kanker

🇺🇦 рак

🇵🇱 rak

🇯🇵 がん (癌)

🇫🇷 cancer

🇪🇸 cáncer

🇹🇷 kanser

🇰🇷 암 (癌)

🇸🇦 سرطان

🇨🇿 rakovina

🇸🇰 rakovina

🇨🇳 癌症 (ái zhèng)

🇸🇮 rak

🇮🇸 krabbamein

🇰🇿 қатерлі ісік

🇬🇪 კიბო

🇦🇿 xərçəng

🇲🇽 cáncer

Etymology

The word 'cancer' has its origins in the Latin word 'cancer' which means crab. The term was first used to describe the disease in the 5th century BC by the Greek physician Hippocrates. The association of the disease with the crab-like appearance of tumors led to the use of the term 'cancer'. Over the centuries, our understanding of cancer has evolved, leading to advancements in diagnosis and treatment.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,153, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.