cancer

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A disease in which the cells of a tissue undergo uncontrolled (and often rapid) proliferation.

   If successful, Edison and Ford—in 1914—would move society away from the[…]hazards of gasoline cars: air and water pollution, noise and noxiousness, constant coughing and the undeniable rise in cancers caused by smoke exhaust particulates.

2. 2
   noun

   Something damaging that spreads throughout something else.

   I began by telling the President that there was a cancer growing on the Presidency, and if the cancer was not removed, the President himself would be killed by it.

3. 3
   adj

   Extremely unpleasant and annoying.

   I used to love this game, but the new meta is straight up cancer.

4. 4
   name

   A constellation of the zodiac traditionally figured in the shape of a crab.

   And add more coals to Cancer when he burns / With entertaining great Hyperion.

5. 5
   noun

   Someone with a Cancer star sign.

   ‘All right, so what are Cancers apart from sad, then?’ Lizzie asked.

6. 6
   noun

   any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division

7. 7
   name

   The zodiac sign for the crab, ruled by the Moon and covering June 22–July 22 (tropical astrology) or July 16–August 15 (sidereal astrology).

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin cancer (“crab”), a calque of Ancient Greek καρκίνος (karkínos, “crab; ulcer; cancer”) (possibly cognate), applied to cancerous tumors because the enlarged veins resembled the legs of a crab. Doublet of canker and chancre.