canker
Spreading plant disease
Canker refers to spreading corruption or decay.
In plants, a canker is a diseased area where bark dies and tissue rots.
In animals and humans, canker sores are painful ulcers in the mouth.
Figuratively, canker describes anything that corrupts or destroys from within: Resentment was a canker eating at their marriage.
The verb means to infect with decay or bitterness.
Plant disease causing decay
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- barkSharp canine vocalization
branch · tree · apple · rose · citrus · bacterial · pathogen · dieback
Erosive tissue wound
- lesionArea of pathological change
- cold soreViral lip lesion
- mouth soreLesion in oral cavity
- blisterFluid-filled skin swelling
inflammation · infection · abscess · fever blister · mucosa · oral · gum · lip
Dishonest abuse of power
- evilProfound moral wickedness
- blightPlant disease causing decay
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
- scourgeCause of mass suffering
vice · poison · malignancy · pestilence · affliction · taint · curse · disease
Organic breakdown process
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- erosionGradual wearing away
- festeringBecoming infected, decaying
spreading · consumption · degradation · destruction · rust · corruption · putrefaction · decomposition
blight
Plant disease causing decay
bark · branch · tree · apple · rose · citrus · bacterial · pathogen · dieback · gall
ulcer
Erosive tissue wound
- lesionArea of pathological change
- cold soreViral lip lesion
- mouth soreLesion in oral cavity
blister · inflammation · infection · abscess · fever blister · mucosa · oral · gum · lip · tongue
corruption
Dishonest abuse of power
scourge · vice · poison · malignancy · pestilence · affliction · taint · curse · disease · infection
rot
Organic breakdown process
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- erosionGradual wearing away
festering · spreading · consumption · degradation · destruction · rust · corruption · putrefaction · decomposition · disintegration
- crop threatspests, pest, blight, drought, disease
- farm hazardsdrought, frost damage, flood, hail damage, frost
- crop problemsblight, drought damage, crop disease, root rot, wilting
- fungal diseasescandidiasis, histoplasmosis, blight, powdery mildew, downy mildew
- plant problemsroot rot, iron deficiency, calcium deficiency, wilting, yellow leaves
- tree damagerot, blight, storm damage, wind damage, lightning strike
- canker soreOral mucosal lesion
- citrus cankerBacterial disease of citrus
canker sores, cankers, cankerworm, cankered, cankerworms, canker sore, cankering