What does ulcerate mean?
Ulcerate is a verb meaning to form an ulcer or develop ulceration, usually in skin or other living tissue. It is commonly used in medical, biological, and veterinary contexts, as in statements about a wound that has begun to ulcerate or pressure that can ulcerate the skin. The word can also be transitive: a substance, injury, or condition may cause tissue to ulcerate. Its tone is clinical rather than casual, and it describes an active process rather than simply naming the sore itself, which is an ulcer. Although the word can describe physical deterioration in figurative use, its literal medical meaning is its dominant sense. Ulcerate is related to ulcer, ulcerous, ulcerative, and ulceration, all of which reflect the same Latin root.
verbTo ulcerate means to form an ulcer or become affected by one, especially in tissue. In medical and biological contexts, it can also be used transitively to describe something causing tissue to ulcerate.
- To become affected by an ulcer or develop ulceration in tissue.
- To cause an ulcer to form in tissue.
"If the pressure is not relieved, the skin may ulcerate."
"The injured area began to ulcerate after several days of poor circulation."
"Prolonged pressure can ulcerate the skin in patients who cannot reposition themselves."
The verb literally means to develop into an ulcer, making it one of the most vivid medical terms for the body forming an open sore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ulcerate come from?
Ulcerate comes from Latin ulcerare, meaning to cause or develop an ulcer, from ulcus, meaning an ulcer or sore. The English verb was borrowed in the early 17th century in medical writing. Its relatives ulcer, ulcerous, and ulcerative developed from the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How ulcerate is actually used
Ulcerate is primarily a formal medical and biological term. It can function intransively for the development of an ulcer and transitively when something causes tissue to become ulcerated.
Easily confused with ulcerate
An ulcer is the resulting sore or area of tissue damage, whereas ulcerate is the verb describing the formation or development of that condition.