GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Canker (kăṉˈkẽr), n. [OE. canker, cancre, AS. cancer (akin to D. kanker, OHG chanchar.), fr. L. cancer a cancer; or if a native word, cf. Gr.  excrescence on tree,  gangrene. Cf. also OF. cancre, F. chancere, fr. L. cancer. See cancer, and cf. Chancre.]
   
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   1. A corroding or sloughing ulcer; esp. a spreading gangrenous ulcer or collection of ulcers in or about the mouth; -- called also water canker, canker of the mouth, and noma.
   
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   2. Anything which corrodes, corrupts, or destroy.
   
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   The cankers of envy and faction. Temple.
   
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   3. (Hort.) A disease incident to trees, causing the bark to rot and fall off.
   
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   4. (Far.) An obstinate and often incurable disease of a horse's foot, characterized by separation of the horny portion and the development of fungoid growths; -- usually resulting from neglected thrush.
   
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   5. A kind of wild, worthless rose; the dog-rose.
   
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   To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose.
   
   And plant this thorm, this canker, Bolingbroke. Shak.
   
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   Black canker. See under Black.
   
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2.       
   Canker (kăṉˈkẽr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cankered (-kẽrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cankering.]
   1. To affect as a canker; to eat away; to corrode; to consume.
   
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   No lapse of moons can canker Love. Tennyson.
   
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   2. To infect or pollute; to corrupt.  Addison.
   
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   A tithe purloined cankers the whole estate. Herbert.
   
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3.       
   Canker, v. i.
   1. To waste away, grow rusty, or be oxidized, as a mineral. [Obs.]
   
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   Silvering will sully and canker more than gliding. Bacom.
   
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   2. To be or become diseased, or as if diseased, with canker; to grow corrupt; to become venomous.
   
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   Deceit and cankered malice. Dryden.
   
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   As with age his body uglier grows,
   
   So his mind cankers. Shak.
   
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