Standard Lemma guide

ulcerate

adj · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Having an ulcus, a rounded pore-like aperture, at one or both poles.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, palynology, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cause an ulcer to develop.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: medicine, sciences

Examples

  • The surface was ulcerated by trauma.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To become ulcerous.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: medicine, sciences

Examples

  • The tissue ulcerated shortly after exposure.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

affect with an ulcer

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Her stomach was ulcerated

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: affect

5

verb

Meaning 5

undergo ulceration

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Her stomach ulcerated

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ulcerātus.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1élḱos Proto-Italic *elkos Old Latin *olcos Latin ulcus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin ulcerōbor. English ulcerate Borrowed from Latin ulcerō.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: haavauttaa — to cause an ulcer
  • German: ulzerieren — to cause an ulcer
  • Italian: ulcerare — to cause an ulcer
  • Korean: 궤양화시키다 (gweyanghwa-sikida) — to cause an ulcer
  • Polish: powodować owrzodzenie — to cause an ulcer
  • Polish: spowodować owrzodzenie — to cause an ulcer
  • Portuguese: ulcerar — to cause an ulcer
  • Spanish: ulcerar — to cause an ulcer
  • Finnish: haavautua — to become ulcerous
  • German: vereitern — to become ulcerous
  • Korean: 궤양화되다 (gweyanghwa-doeda) — to become ulcerous
  • Polish: wrzodzieć — to become ulcerous
  • Polish: owrzodzieć — to become ulcerous
  • Spanish: ulcerarse — to become ulcerous
  • Vietnamese: loét — to become ulcerous