cancer
cancer — noun
1. a serious illness where cells inside the body multiply abnormally, forming masse
a serious illness where cells inside the body multiply abnormally, forming masses that attack healthy tissue and often lead to death.
Aunt Rosa's doctor told her the cancer was at an early stage and could be treated.
passive: be told cancer is at a stage
After years of heavy smoking, Ravi's father died of lung cancer at sixty-two.
collocation: die of lung cancer
The hospital has opened a new research centre that focuses on breast cancer treatments.
Catching the disease early gives cancer patients a much better chance of recovery.
The charity raises money to help families whose children are fighting childhood cancers.
- malignancy
a medical term for a dangerous cancerous growth; more formal and technical
- benign tumor
a growth that does not spread to other parts of the body and is not life-threatening
文法句型
cancer + noun (as modifier)
diagnosed with cancer
die of/from cancer
用法筆記
Uncountable when used as a general concept ('He has cancer'). Countable when referring to specific types or instances ('several different cancers affect the liver'). Frequently modifies other nouns: cancer cell, cancer treatment, cancer research.
常見錯誤
2. a harmful activity, attitude, or problem that grows and spreads quickly within a
a harmful activity, attitude, or problem that grows and spreads quickly within a society or group, damaging it from the inside.
The newspaper described corruption as a cancer eating away at the heart of the government.
metaphorical use: a cancer eating away at something
Racism in any form is a social cancer that destroys communities from within.
collocation: social cancer
Leila warned that dishonesty had become a cancer in the company's culture, affecting every department.
Without new laws, the cancer of illegal wildlife trading will continue to spread.
- remedy
something that cures or solves a problem
文法句型
cancer of + noun
a cancer in/on + noun
用法筆記
Always used figuratively, not a medical term. The subject is typically a social ill: corruption, racism, hatred, dishonesty. Often followed by 'of + noun' specifying the problem.
常見錯誤
3. a group of stars in the northern sky that is said to form the shape of a crab; o
a group of stars in the northern sky that is said to form the shape of a crab; one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac.
On a clear spring night, the faint stars of Cancer appear between Gemini and Leo.
astronomical location between other constellations
Yusuf pointed his telescope at the constellation Cancer and showed his sister the Beehive Cluster.
Ancient astronomers named the constellation Cancer because its shape reminded them of a crab.
Amara learned to identify the constellation Cancer during her first astronomy class.
- the Crab
the informal English name for the constellation, referring to its shape
文法句型
the constellation Cancer
in the constellation Cancer
用法筆記
Always capitalised as a proper noun when referring to the astronomical constellation. Often preceded by 'the constellation'.
4. the astrological sign that covers people who have a birthday between June twenty
the astrological sign that covers people who have a birthday between June twenty-second and July twenty-second; also refers to someone whose birthday falls in that period.
Theo was born on July 3rd, so his star sign is Cancer.
person with the sign: be + Cancer
According to her horoscope, Hana as a Cancer should focus on family matters this month.
Cancers are said to be very loyal and deeply attached to their homes.
Priya read that Cancers make the best friends because they listen and care about others.
Rohan checked his girlfriend's birthday — of course she was a Cancer, so emotional and sweet.
- Cancerian
an alternative term for a person born under the sign of Cancer; more formal
- Capricorn
the opposite sign in the zodiac
文法句型
be (a) Cancer
be born under Cancer
Cancerian
用法筆記
Capitalised as a proper noun when referring to the sign or a person of that sign. A person can be called 'a Cancer' or 'a Cancerian'. The uncountable form refers to the sign itself ('she is Cancer').