Oxford Essential Dictionary
cancer
noun
a very dangerous illness that makes some very small parts in the body (called cells) grow too fast:
Smoking can cause cancer.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
cancer
can‧cer S2 W2 /ˈkænsə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: 'crab, cancer']
1. [uncountable and countable] a very serious disease in which cells in one part of the body start to grow in a way that is not normal ⇨ tumour:
A lot of cancers can now be treated successfully.
lung/breast/stomach etc cancer
Smoking causes lung cancer.
She was told last year that she had cancer.
He died of cancer last month.
cancer of
cancer of the womb
a new treatment which effectively kills cancer cells
2. [countable] an evil influence that affects a lot of people and is difficult to stop:
Drug abuse is the cancer of our society.
—cancerous adjective:
a cancerous growth
cancerous cells
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
cancer
can·cer [cancer cancers] [ˈkænsə(r)] [ˈkænsər] noun
1. uncountable, countable a serious disease in which growths of cells, also called cancers, form in the body and kill normal body cells. The disease often causes death
• lung/breast cancer
• cancer of the bowel/stomach
• Most skin cancers are completely curable.
• The cancer has spread to his stomach.
• Smokers face an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
• cancer patients
• cancer research
2. countable (literary) an evil or dangerous thing that spreads quickly
• Violence is a cancer in our society.
Derived Word: cancerous
Word Origin:
Old English, from Latin, crab or creeping ulcer, translating Greek karkinos, said to have been applied to such tumours because the swollen veins around them resembled the limbs of a crab. canker was the usual form until the 17th cent. Compare with Cancer.
Collocations:
Illnesses
Becoming ill
catch a cold/an infectious disease/the flu/(BrE) flu/pneumonia/a virus/(informal) a bug
get (BrE) ill/(NAmE) sick/a disease/AIDS/breast cancer/a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
come down with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu
contract a deadly disease/a serious illness/HIV/AIDS
be infected with a virus/a parasite/HIV
develop cancer/diabetes/a rash/an ulcer/symptoms of hepatitis
have a heart attack/a stroke
provoke/trigger/produce an allergic reaction
block/burst/rupture a blood vessel
damage/sever a nerve/an artery/a tendon
Being ill
feel (BrE) ill/sick/nauseous/queasy
be running (BrE) a temperature/(NAmE) a fever
have a head cold/diabetes/heart disease/lung cancer/a headache/(BrE) a high temperature/(NAmE) a fever
suffer from asthma/malnutrition/frequent headaches/bouts of depression/a mental disorder
be laid up with/ (BrE) be in bed with a cold/the flu/(BrE) flu/a migraine
nurse a cold/a headache/a hangover
battle/fight cancer/depression/addiction/alcoholism
Treatments
examine a patient
diagnose a condition/disease/disorder
be diagnosed with cancer/diabetes/schizophrenia
prescribe/be given/be on/take drugs/medicine/medication/pills/painkillers/antibiotics
treat sb for cancer/depression/shock
have/undergo an examination/an operation/surgery/a kidney transplant/therapy/chemotherapy/treatment for cancer
have/be given an injection/(BrE) a flu jab/(NAmE) a flu shot/a blood transfusion/a scan/an X-ray
cure a disease/an ailment/cancer/a headache/a patient
prevent the spread of disease/further outbreaks/damage to the lungs
be vaccinated against the flu/(BrE) flu/the measles/(BrE) measles/polio/smallpox
enhance/boost/confer/build immunity to a disease
Example Bank:
• Childhood cancers have a very good survival rate.
• He died after an 18-month battle against cancer.
• Most of the women employees have now been screened for breast cancer.
• Prostate cancer deaths fell after screening was introduced.
• The cancer risk among smokers was found to be higher.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
cancer / ˈkæn.sə r / / -sɚ / noun
B1 [ C or U ] a serious disease that is caused when cells in the body grow in a way that is uncontrolled and not normal, killing normal cells and often causing death:
He died of liver cancer.
cancer of the cervix/stomach
breast/bowel/lung cancer
cancer cells
a cancer patient
It was a secondary cancer.
→ See also carcinogen
[ C ] a harmful activity that spreads quickly:
Drug abuse is a cancer which is destroying our society.
cancerous / -əs / adjective
a cancerous growth/tumour
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
cancer
[kæ̱nsə(r)]
♦♦
cancers
N-VAR: oft n N
Cancer is a serious disease in which cells in a person's body increase rapidly in an uncontrolled way, producing abnormal growths.
Her mother died of breast cancer...
Jane was just 25 when she learned she had cancer...
Ninety per cent of lung cancers are caused by smoking.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
cancer
can·cer /ˈkænsɚ/ noun, pl -cers
1 : a serious disease caused by cells that are not normal and that can spread to one or many parts of the body
[noncount]
• breast/lung cancer
• He was diagnosed with cancer.
• She learned that she has cancer.
• Eating certain foods may help reduce the risk of cancer.
[count]
• Advanced cancers are more difficult to treat.
- often used before another noun
• cancer patients
• cancer prevention
• cancer treatments
2 [count] : something bad or dangerous that causes other bad things to happen - usually singular
• Her jealousy was a cancer that slowly destroyed her marriage.
• Drugs and violence have become a cancer in the city.
3 Cancer
a [noncount] : the fourth sign of the zodiac that comes between Gemini and Leo and has a crab as its symbol - see picture at zodiac
b [count] : a person born under the sign of Cancer : a person born between June 22nd and July 22nd
• I'm a Taurus, but my best friend is a Cancer.
- can·cer·ous /ˈkænsərəs/ adj
• a cancerous growth/lump
• The tumor is not cancerous.