Canker - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A canker is a painful sore or ulcer, often in the mouth, that hinders healing. It can also refer to something that corrupts or destroys over time, like a disease in plants.
Definition:
A destructive fungal disease in plants or a persistent, corrupting influence.
Synonyms:
ulcer, infection, blight, rot
Part of Speech:
noun, verb
Antonyms:
healing, health
Common Collocations:
canker sore, canker worm, canker rash
Derivatives:
cankerous, cankered
Usage Tips:
Use "canker" for plant diseases or metaphorical corruption; avoid confusion with "cancer."
Common Phrases:
canker in the rose, canker of jealousy
Etymology:
From Old English *cancer*, meaning "spreading sore," influenced by Latin *cancer* (crab, tumor).
Examples:
- 1. The canker ruined the apple orchard.
- 2. Her bitterness was a canker in their friendship.
- 3. The vet treated the dog’s canker sore.
- 4. Gossip is a canker in small communities.