definitions
  • synonyms

carcinoma

[ kahr-suh-noh-muh ]
/ ˌkɑr səˈnoʊ mə /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR carcinoma ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural car·ci·no·mas, car·ci·no·ma·ta [kahr-suh-noh-muh-tuh] /ˌkɑr səˈnoʊ mə tə/. Pathology.

a malignant and invasive epithelial tumor that spreads by metastasis and often recurs after excision; cancer.

RELATED WORDS

cyst, lump, cancer, swelling, tumor, corruption, malignancy, disease, sickness, bump, sarcoma, tumefaction, neoplasm, canker, C

Nearby words

carcinogenesis, carcinogenic, carcinoid, carcinoid syndrome, carcinolytic, carcinoma, carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, carcinoma in situ, carcinoma simplex, carcinomatosis, carcinomatous

Origin of carcinoma

1715–25; < Latin: ulcer, tumor < Greek karkínōma; see carcino-, -oma
Related formscar·ci·no·ma·toid, adjectivecar·ci·no·ma·tous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for carcinoma

British Dictionary definitions for carcinoma

carcinoma

/ (ˌkɑːsɪˈnəʊmə) /

noun plural -mas or -mata (-mətə) pathol

any malignant tumour derived from epithelial tissue
another name for cancer (def. 1)
Derived Formscarcinomatoid or carcinomatous, adjective

Word Origin for carcinoma

C18: from Latin, from Greek karkinōma, from karkinos cancer
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 carcinoma

carcinoma

n.

"malignant tumor," 1721, from Latin carcinoma, from Greek karkinoma "a cancer," from karkinos "cancer," literally "crab" (see cancer) + -oma.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for carcinoma

carcinoma

[ kär′sə-nō′mə ]

n. pl. car•ci•no•mas

An invasive malignant tumor derived from epithelial tissue that tends to metastasize to other areas of the body.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for carcinoma

carcinoma

[ kär′sə-nō′mə ]

Plural carcinomas carcinomata (kär′sə-nō′mə-tə)

Any of various cancerous tumors that are derived from epithelial tissue of the skin, blood vessels, or other organs and that tend to metastasize to other parts of the body. See also basal cell carcinoma squamous cell carcinoma.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture definitions for carcinoma

carcinoma

[ (kahr-suh-noh-muh) ]

A malignant tumor in the tissues that make up the skin, glands, mucous membranes, and lining of organs.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.