|
| can·ker [ kángkər ] |
noun (plural can·kers) |
|
| Definition: |
| |
1. veterinary medicine animal disease: a disease of animals, e.g. a disease of horses that makes their hooves spongy, a disease that can cause ulcers in the outer ears of some animals, or a throat infection of some birds
|
2. botany plant disease: a disease that creates open wounds on the trunks and branches of woody plants. Cankers can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or pests.
|
3. evil: an evil or corrupting influence that spreads and is difficult to wipe out
|
transitive and intransitive verb (past and past participle can·kered, present participle can·ker·ing, 3rd person present singular can·kers) |
|
| Definition: |
| |
1. botany develop plant disease: to develop canker, or cause the trunks and branches of woody plants to develop canker
|
2. make or become corrupt: to become a source of spreading corruption or evil, or cause something to decay as a result of spreading corruption or evil
|
| [14th century. Via Old N French cancre< Latin cancr- "crab"] |
|
  can·ker·ous adjective |
|
