cancerous Definition

cancer
noun

1. pathol.
Any form of malignant tumour that develops when the cells of a tissue or organ multiply in an uncontrolled manner.
2. pathol.
A diseased area produced when a malignant tumour invades and destroys the surrounding tissues, and which if left untreated is generally fatal.
3. An evil within an organization, community, etc that is gradually destroying it. See also oncogene.

Thesaurus: malignancy, canker, blight, corruption, pestilence, rot, infection, tumour.

Derivative: cancerous
adj

(of a growth) having the nature of a cancer
Thesaurus: carcinogenic, malignant.

Etymology: 17c: Latin, meaning ‘crab' or ‘cancerous growth'.