carcinogen
[kahr-sin-uh-juh n, -jen, kahr-suh-nuh-jen, -noh-]
- any substance or agent that tends to produce a cancer.
Show More
Origin of carcinogen
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for carcinogen
Contemporary Examples of carcinogen
The coal ash deposits have heavy concentrations of hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen.
Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco Chronicle Mining Catastrophes in West VirginiaChris Hedges, Joe Sacco
June 14, 2012
One 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
- pathol any substance that produces cancer
Show More
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
Word Origin and History for carcinogen
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
carcinogen
(kär-sĭn′ə-jən, kär′sə-nə-jĕn′)- A cancer-causing substance or agent.
Show More
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.
Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.