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.

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chancre British  

/ ˈʃæŋkə /

noun

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

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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

See Examples For:

chancre

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

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 Alexis Thomson

Children infected in this way at birth do not develop the true hereditary form of the disease, but get the acquired form with a chancre and secondary period, just as in later life.

From The Third Great Plague A Discussion of Syphilis for Everyday People by John H. (John Hinchman) Stokes