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to ulcerate

to ulcerate

2 8.6
To develop a sore on the skin or inside the body that may become painful
  • verb
  • /ˈʌlsəˌreɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ulcerarse
  • His mood levellers give him this ulcerating skin rash.
  • ulcerated lesion
  • ulcerated nodule
  • ulcerated skin

Examples

  • After being untreated for a long time, the burn became ulcerated and required medical attention.

  • Injection will cause a lot of pain and it ulcerates.

    Academic text (2007)
  • All my mates are ulcerated at the throat; the punctures are deep and ugly.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Many had ulcerating soles on their legs or feet, sores that stank.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • An indirect laryngoscopy revealed a scarred and ulcerated epiglottis.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The mucosa was ulcerated, and the lamina propria and superficial muscular layer of the tongue were invaded.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The doctor warned that if the sore remained untreated, it could easily become ulcerated.

  • Patients with diabetes often have wounds that can become ulcerated if not properly managed.

Antonyms

481 1.2

To become healthy again after an injury, illness, or emotional pain

How Severe

to necrotize
  • Specialized
3 9.8
to ulcerate
  • Specialized
2 8.6
to inflame
  • Specialized
13 5.3
to irritate
17 3.4

Surface Forms

ulcerate infinitive
ulcerated past
ulcerated past participle
ulcerating present participle
ulcerates third person singular

Morphology

ulcerate = ulcer (transparent) = ulcer + ate

The verb is formed by the regular verb-forming suffix '-ate' from the noun 'ulcer', so the meaning ('to develop or cause ulcers') is directly derived.

Etymology

The word ulcerate comes from the old Latin word ulcus, which means 'sore' and is the same root as the common word ulcer. So, to ulcerate is for skin or body tissue to become a 'sore' or an 'open sore'.