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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Cancer Definition, Usage, and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：malignant disease (cancer)

cancer 🔊

/ˈkænsər/

A very serious illness where some cells in the body grow uncontrollably and can spread to other parts.

Cancer cell growth illustration showing abnormal cells invading healthy tissue

malignant disease 🔊

➕

/məˈlɪɡnənt dɪˈziːz/

A class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled division of abnormal cells that can invade surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'cancer' (crab), due to the crab-like spread of tumors.

💡 Mnemonic

A crab's claws pinch and spread like cancer cells invading tissue.

📖 Example

Thanks to advanced screening, doctors can now detect cancer at a much earlier stage, greatly improving the chances of a full recovery. 🔊 With advanced medical tests, physicians can now identify the disease early, significantly boosting the likelihood of complete healing.

🔗 Collocations

lung cancer – Cancer that originates in the lungs

cancer treatment – Medical care aimed at curing or managing cancer

cancer patient – A person diagnosed with cancer

🔄 Synonyms

malignancy (n.) – A cancerous growth or tumor

carcinoma (n.) – A type of cancer that begins in epithelial cells

neoplasm (n.) – An abnormal growth of tissue, which may be benign or malignant

🚫 Antonyms

health (n.) – A state of well-being without disease

benignity (n.) – The quality of being harmless, especially of a tumor

🌱 Derivatives

cancerous (adj.) – Relating to or affected with cancer

carcinogen (n.) – A substance capable of causing cancer

📖 Cultural Story

Ancient Greek physician Galen noted tumors resembled crabs, giving rise to the Latin term 'cancer'.

Meaning 2：a corrupting influence (cancer)

cancer 🔊

/ˈkænsər/

Used as a metaphor for something very bad that spreads and destroys a healthy system, like a disease.

a corrupting influence 🔊

➕

/ə kəˈrʌptɪŋ ˈɪnfluəns/

A metaphor for something that gradually destroys a system, organization, or society from within, similar to the way cancer spreads in the body.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The spread of online misinformation is often described as a cancer on our digital society, eroding trust and rational discussion. 🔊 The proliferation of fake news online is frequently called a cancer on our digital community, undermining trust and sensible discourse.

🔗 Collocations

social cancer – A destructive element within a society

cancer of corruption – Corruption seen as a malignant force

cancerous growth – A harmful expansion of something negative

🔄 Synonyms

plague (n.) – A widespread affliction or calamity

blight (n.) – Something that spoils or damages

rot (n.) – A process of decay or deterioration

🚫 Antonyms

cure (n.) – A remedy that eliminates a problem

benefit (n.) – A positive force that improves a situation

🌱 Derivatives

cancerous (adj.) – Spreading destructively like cancer