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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

cancer

/ˈkænsɚ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does cancer mean?

noun

  1. A disease in which the cells of a tissue undergo uncontrolled (often rapid) proliferation.
  2. (figuratively) Something damaging that spreads throughout something else.
  3. Someone with a Cancer star sign.
More meanings (3)

proper noun

  1. A constellation of the zodiac traditionally figured in the shape of a crab.
  2. The zodiac sign for the crab, ruled by the Moon and covering June 22–July 22 (tropical astrology) or July 16–August 15 (sidereal astrology).

adjective

  1. (offensive, slang, vulgar) Extremely unpleasant and annoying.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈkænsɚ/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The equinoctial current is felt, though feebly, even beyond the tropic of Cancer, in the 26th and 28th degrees of latitude.
Alexander von Humboldt; Aimé BonplandPersonal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1Translated by Thomasina RossProject Gutenberg ebook #6322
All competent observers agree that cancer in women is much commoner from forty to fifty years than at any other age.
Anna M. (Anna Mary) GalbraithThe Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in HygieneProject Gutenberg ebook #4986