ulcer
gb/ˈʌlsɚ/ us/ˈʌlsɚ/
B2
English
~ 7900
fekély, rákfene
NOUN
B2
1
fekély
B2
Usage pattern:
an ulcer on [a body part] / an ulcer in [an organ]
The doctor diagnosed her sharp stomach pain as a bleeding ulcer.
Az orvos vérző gyomorfekélyt diagnosztizált nála a szúró gyomorfájdalma miatt.
Smokers have a higher risk of developing a stomach ulcer.
A dohányosoknál nagyobb a gyomorfekély kialakulásának kockázata.
He has a painful ulcer on his lower leg that needs daily cleaning.
Stress alone does not usually cause an ulcer, but it can make the symptoms worse.
The dentist found a small ulcer on the inside of my cheek.
Learner examples
The man has a stomach ulcer and cannot eat spicy food.
A férfinak gyomorfekélye van, ezért nem ehet csípős ételeket.
She went to the doctor because an ulcer on her leg would not heal.
Elment az orvoshoz, mert a lábán lévő fekély nem gyógyult be.
I have a small ulcer in my mouth, and it hurts when I eat.
The nurse cleans the ulcer every day to stop infection.
Medicine can help an ulcer heal more quickly.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "ulcer" with "cancer" or use it for any kind of pain. An ulcer is specifically an open sore in the skin or inner lining of the body, not just pain or a tumor.
Meaning
painful open sore in the body
Collocations
stomach ulcer
|peptic ulcer
|mouth ulcer
|bleeding ulcer
|treat an ulcer
|develop an ulcer
Synonyms
sore (More general and informal; can mean any painful spot, not necessarily a medical ulcer.)
Antonyms
healthy tissue (Describes skin or internal tissue that is normal and unbroken, without an ulcer.)
Themes
health
|medicine
|science
|body
Definition
A painful open sore on the skin or inside the body that is slow to heal.
A break in the skin or in a mucous membrane inside the body that does not heal normally, often forming a painful, sometimes infected open sore.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
2
Usage pattern:
an ulcer in [a society/organization/system]
The corruption in local government has become an ulcer in the city that citizens can no longer ignore.
A helyi önkormányzatban elharapózott korrupció a város rákfenéjévé vált, amit a polgárok már nem hagyhatnak figyelmen kívül.
Many see the overcrowded, crumbling prisons as an ulcer on the justice system.
Sokan az igazságszolgáltatási rendszer rákfenéjének tartják a túlzsúfolt, omladozó börtönöket.
The report described long‑term unemployment as a social ulcer that eats away at communities.
For decades, the unresolved conflict has been an ulcer in the region's politics.
The author calls racism an ulcer at the heart of the nation.
Learner examples
The writer calls street violence an ulcer in the city.
Az író a város rákfenéjének nevezi az utcai erőszakot.
They say that deep poverty is an ulcer in our society.
Azt mondják, hogy a mélyszegénység társadalmunk rákfenéje.
Corruption is an ulcer in the system and is hard to remove.
For the leader, the war was an ulcer in the history of his country.
Many people see drug abuse as a moral ulcer in the community.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is medical. In this figurative use, "ulcer" does not describe a real sore on the body, but a serious problem in society or an organization. It is more literary and is not common in everyday conversation.
Meaning
deep, lasting social or moral problem
Collocations
an ulcer in society
|an ulcer in the system
|social ulcer
|an ulcer on the city
Synonyms
blight (Often used figuratively for something that spoils or damages an area or community; slightly more common than this figurative use of "ulcer.")
Antonyms
strength (Represents a positive, healthy part of a society or organization, in contrast to a harmful "ulcer.")
Themes
society
|politics
|problems
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Definition
A very bad, long‑lasting problem in a group, city, or country that hurts people and is hard to fix.
A long‑lasting, deeply rooted problem or source of harm within a society, organization, or system that continually causes damage and is difficult to remove.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ulcer
IPA
GB/ˈʌlsɚ/
US/ˈʌlsɚ/
Syllables & stress
ul - cer (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ul)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ulcer
- Plural: ulcers
Word family
Forms
ulcers
noun
Core family
ulcerate
verb
Related words
ulceration
noun
ulcerated
adjective
Advanced or less common
ulcerative
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.