carcinogen
[ kahr-sin-uh-juh n, -jen, kahr-suh-nuh-jen, -noh- ]
/ kɑrˈsɪn ə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn, ˈkɑr sə nəˌdʒɛn, -noʊ- /
noun Pathology.
any substance or agent that tends to produce a cancer.
Nearby words
- carcassonne,
- carceral,
- carchemish,
- carcino-,
- carcinoembryonic antigen,
- carcinogenesis,
- carcinogenic,
- carcinoid,
- carcinoid syndrome,
- carcinolytic
Origin of carcinogen
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for carcinogen
The coal ash deposits have heavy concentrations of hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen.
Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco Chronicle Mining Catastrophes in West Virginia|Chris Hedges, Joe Sacco|June 14, 2012|DAILY BEASTOne study found it to be 30 times more potent a carcinogen.
Further, estrogen or carcinogen exposure over a lifetime leads to the development of cancer.
carcinogen
/ (kɑːˈsɪnədʒən, ˈkɑːsɪnəˌdʒɛn) /
noun
pathol any substance that produces cancer
Word Origin for carcinogen
C20: from Greek karkinos cancer + -gen
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
carcinogen
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
carcinogen
[ kär-sĭn′ə-jən, kär′sə-nə-jĕn′ ]
n.
A cancer-causing substance or agent.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
carcinogen
[ kär-sĭn′ə-jən ]
A substance or agent that can cause cells to become cancerous by altering their genetic structure so that they multiply continuously and become malignant. Asbestos, DDT, and tobacco smoke are examples of carcinogens.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.