from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- n. A lesion of the skin or a mucous membrane such as the one lining the stomach or duodenum that is accompanied by formation of pus and necrosis of surrounding tissue, usually resulting from inflammation or ischemia.
- n. A corrupting condition or influence.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- n. An open sore of the skin, eyes or mucous membrane, often caused by an initial abrasion and generally maintained by an inflammation and/or an infection.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- n. A solution of continuity in any of the soft parts of the body, discharging purulent matter, found on a surface, especially one of the natural surfaces of the body, and originating generally in a constitutional disorder; a sore discharging pus. It is distinguished from an abscess, which has its beginning, at least, in the depth of the tissues.
- n. Fig.: Anything that festers and corrupts like an open sore; a vice in character.
- transitive v. To ulcerate.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A sore in any of the soft parts of the body, open either to the surface or to some natural cavity, and attended with a secretion of pus or some kind of discharge; a solution of continuity of the skin of the body, or of the investing tissue of any natural cavity, the result of morbid action, not of mechanical injury nor of a healthy reparative process.
- n. Hence, figuratively, a sore, blot, stain, or cause of reproach, in an ethical sense: as, an ulcer of the body politic.
- To ulcerate. Fuller, Holy and Profane State, V. vi. 3.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- n. a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue
It may begin as a hard nodule, or as a papillary growth which breaks down on the surface, leaving a deep ulcer with a characteristically indurated base -- the _crateriform ulcer_.
But as with all his other symptoms, the ulcer was abnormal, as demonstrated by the glossy white molars sprouting in a clump from its center.
At first, he thought his ulcer might be acting up, or maybe he had developed a bad case of heartburn.
This month they're being judged daily on their performance, using a volatility methodology known as the ulcer index, which balances their returns against the risks they incur.
The ulcer is a disease endemic in Southern Arabia; it is frequently fatal, especially to the poorer classes of operatives, when worn out by privation, hardship, and fatigue.
I'd spent a while visiting her in hospital earlier this year when the ulcer was acting up and there was a good chance they might have to amputate her leg.
The fibre seems in color and texture to be in a normal condition; indeed, there appear to be little or no pathological symptoms about the parts at all, except a slight appearance of _vermillion_ inflammation over the surface of the ulcer, which is more apparent sometimes than others.
This system of infidelity is well symbolized by a noisome, grevious ulcer, which is loathsome to the sight, offensive to the smell, corrupting to the body, and productive of awful pain.
It was stated that the ulcer was the result of the girl's stooping over some bushes to take an egg from a hen's nest, when the point of a palmetto stuck in her breast and broke off.
The lower part of the leg is enormous (the ulcer, which is as large as a two franc piece and goes right down to the bone, is situated above the ankle).