chancre

American  

[shang-ker] / ˈʃæŋ kər /

noun

Pathology.

1. the initial lesion of syphilis and certain other infectious diseases, commonly a more or less distinct ulcer or sore with a hard base.

---

chancre British  

/ ˈʃæŋkə /

noun

1. pathol a small hard nodular growth, which is the first diagnostic sign of acquired syphilis

---

Other Word Forms

• chancrous adjective

Etymology

Origin of chancre

1595–1605; < Middle French ≪ Latin cancrum, accusative of cancer cancer

Compare meaning

How does chancre compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chancre vs. chancroid

Example Sentences

Sometimes I’ll even ask when something looks particularly suspect but not quite at chancre levels of inflamed.

From Slate • Nov. 4, 2019

Primary syphilis is usually heralded by a single sore called a chancre, and if not treated, patients can develop a rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes and other symptoms.

From Reuters • Apr. 15, 2010

But the descriptions of the bloody strike at the North American-owned banana plantation, the militia's "chancre of blind obedience" and the lawyers' "sleight of hand" are as graphically indignant as a Diego Rivera mural.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the fever or the berebarde," "Berbi, O.F., chancre, dartre; a boil, bubo, or tetter, commonly attendant upon pestilent fever.

From Notes and Queries, Number 43, August 24, 1850 by Various

The hard chancre is usually solitary, but sometimes there are two or more; when there are several, they are individually smaller than the solitary chancre.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis