cancerate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rare / ObsoleteHistorical, archaic medical
Quick answer
What does “cancerate” mean?
To become cancerous.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To become cancerous; to form or develop into a cancer.
To grow or spread in a malignant, destructive manner, akin to the progression of cancer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary difference. The term is equally obsolete in both dialects.
Connotations
Historical, possibly found in 17th-19th century medical texts.
Frequency
Virtually never used in modern English of any variety.
Grammar
How to Use “cancerate” in a Sentence
[Subject] + cancerates (intransitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cancerate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The physician noted that the lesion had begun to cancerate.
- In the 18th century, it was feared a benign mole might cancerate.
American English
- The old medical text warned that untreated ulcers could cancerate.
- They observed the cells starting to cancerate under the microscope.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only encountered in historical medical literature.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Obsolete in modern medicine; 'become cancerous' or specific pathological terms are used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cancerate”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cancerate”
- Using it in modern medical contexts.
- Using it transitively (e.g., 'It cancerated the tissue' is not standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare and largely obsolete word. Modern English uses phrases like 'become cancerous' or 'develop into a malignancy'.
In historical texts, it could be used metaphorically to describe something spreading destructively. However, this usage is archaic and not recommended for modern communication.
It is a verb, specifically an intransitive verb (e.g., 'The tissue cancerated').
It is useful primarily for understanding historical texts or for linguistic interest. It demonstrates how medical terminology evolves, with more precise terms replacing older, broader ones.
To become cancerous.
Cancerate is usually historical, archaic medical in register.
Cancerate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkansəreɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkænsəˌreɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'cancer' plus '-ate' (to become). It's the process of becoming cancerous.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTIVE GROWTH IS CANCER (e.g., 'corruption cancerated through the institution').
Practice
Quiz
In which context might you encounter the word 'cancerate'?