ulcer

noun

ul·​cer ˈəl-sər How to pronounce ulcer (audio)
1
: a break in skin or mucous membrane with loss of surface tissue, disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissue, and often pus
2
: something that festers and corrupts like an open sore
ulcer verb

Examples of ulcer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In contrast, even the less successful [MA] programs end up with half as many ulcers and less than a third of the amputations compared to fee for service. John C. Goodman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 NSAIDs and Helicobacter pylori, a type of bacteria, can cause ulcers. Amanda Gardner, Health, 29 Oct. 2023 Signs of syphilis typically show up first as a single painless ulcer. Alexander Tin, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2024 Working your brown-and-gold gut into an ulcer at this point is akin to grading a class during the first week of the semester. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2023 Compared to mosquito bites, which are raised, red, and itchy bumps that go away after several days, sand fly bites usually start off small, grow into ulcers, aren’t typically painful, and take a longer time to heal. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2023 Only seven of the 13 studies assessed the clinical outcomes of sick patients who received phages to treat a variety of conditions from leg ulcers to ear infections. Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2023 And though there are some myths out there, coffee cannot cause stomach ulcers or in any other way damage the gastrointestinal system, experts agreed. Julia Landwehr, Health, 10 Jan. 2024 Some drugs, such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), can irritate the lining of the stomach, causing bloating, gas, heartburn, and even bleeding ulcers. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ulcer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin ulcer-, ulcus; akin to Greek helkos wound

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ulcer was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ulcer

Cite this Entry

“Ulcer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ulcer. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ulcer

noun
ul·​cer ˈəl-sər How to pronounce ulcer (audio)
: a slow-healing open sore in which tissue breaks down

Medical Definition

ulcer

1 of 2 noun
ul·​cer ˈəl-sər How to pronounce ulcer (audio)
: a break in skin or mucous membrane with loss of surface tissue, disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissue, and often pus
a stomach ulcer

ulcer

2 of 2 verb
ulcered; ulcering ˈəls-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce ulcer (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on ulcer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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