ULCER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ulcer mean? 

• ULCER (noun)
  The noun ULCER has 1 sense:

1. a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue

  Familiarity information: ULCER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ULCER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

ulcer; ulceration

Hypernyms ("ulcer" is a kind of...):

lesion (any localized abnormal structural change in a bodily part)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ulcer"):

aphthous ulcer (a blister on the mucous membranes of the lips or mouth or gastrointestinal tract)

bedsore; decubitus ulcer; pressure sore (a chronic ulcer of the skin caused by prolonged pressure on it (as in bedridden patients))

chancroid (infectious venereal ulcer)

peptic ulcer; peptic ulceration (an ulcer of the mucous membrane lining of the alimentary tract)

canker; canker sore (an ulceration (especially of the lips or lining of the mouth))

noli-me-tangere (a cancerous ulcer of soft tissue and bone)

noma (acute ulceration of the mucous membranes of the mouth or genitals; often seen in undernourished children)

Derivation:

ulcerate (affect with an ulcer)

ulcerate (undergo ulceration)

ulcerous (having an ulcer or canker)

 Context examples 

A drug usually used to treat stomach ulcers and heartburn.

(Cimetidine, NCI Dictionary)

If the tumor is ulcerated (the skin is broken), it is measured from the base of the ulcer to the deepest tumor cells.

(Breslow depth, NCI Dictionary)

Foot injuries such as these can cause ulcers and infections.

(Diabetic Foot, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

It is done to treat stomach ulcers or other conditions in which the stomach makes too much acid.

(Parietal cell vagotomy, NCI Dictionary)

Also called: Duodenal Ulcer, Stomach Ulcer, Duodenal ulcer, Gastric ulcer, Stomach ulcer, Ulcer

(Peptic Ulcer, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Patients with skin infection develop blisters and ulcers.

(Anthrax, NCI Thesaurus)

It presents with painless nodular swelling of the skin, leading to the formation of necrotizing ulcers.

(Buruli Ulcer, NCI Thesaurus)

Then infection leads to the destruction of skin and large, open ulcers on arms or legs.

(New answer to MRSA, other 'superbug' infections: clay minerals?, NSF)

The procedure lets your doctor see things such as inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, and ulcers.

(Colonoscopy, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

"A poor old tramp explains his poor old ulcers," he muttered, remembering his Henly.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)