Canker \Can"ker\ (k[a^][ng]"k[~e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cankered} (-k[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cankering}.] 1. To affect as a canker; to eat away; to corrode; to consume. No lapse of moons can canker Love. --Tennyson. 2. To infect or pollute; to corrupt. --Addison. A tithe purloined cankers the whole estate. --Herbert.