cancel

To cancel is defined as to delete or make invalid.

(verb)

An example of to cancel is someone telling their grocery delivery they no longer want their services.

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See cancel in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb canceled or cancelled, canceling or cancelling

    1. to cross out with lines or other marks, as in deleting written matter or marking a check as used and cleared
    2. to print or stamp marks on (a postage stamp) as by machine or handstamp, to prevent reuse
  1. to make invalid; annul
  2. to do away with; wipe out; abolish, withdraw, etc.: to cancel an order or a ticket reservation
  3. to neutralize or balance in force or influence; offset: often with out
  4. Math. to remove (a common factor from both terms of a fraction, equivalents of opposite sign or on opposite sides of an equation, etc.)
  5. Printing to delete or omit

Origin: ME cancellen < Anglo-Fr canceler < LL cancellare, to strike out, cancel < L, to make resemble a lattice < cancelli, pl. of cancellus, lattice, grating, dim. of cancer, crossed bars, lattice, dissimilated < carcer, prison

intransitive verb

to offset or cancel each other: with out

noun

  1. the deletion or omission of matter in type or in print
    1. the matter omitted or deleted
    2. the replacement for this
  2. Informal cancellation (sense )

Related Forms:

See cancel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb can·celed also can·celled, can·cel·ing also can·cel·ling, can·cels also can·cels
verb, transitive
  1. To cross out with lines or other markings. See Synonyms at erase.
  2. To annul or invalidate.
  3. To mark or perforate (a postage stamp or check, for example) to indicate that it may not be used again.
  4. To equalize or make up for; offset: Today's decline in stock price canceled out yesterday's gain.
  5. Mathematics
    a. To remove (a common factor) from the numerator and denominator of a fractional expression.
    b. To remove (a common factor or term) from both sides of an equation or inequality.
  6. Printing To omit or delete.
verb, intransitive
To neutralize one another; counterbalance: two opposing forces that canceled out.
noun
  1. The act or an instance of canceling; a cancellation.
  2. Printing
    a. Deletion of typed or printed matter.
    b. The matter deleted.
    c. A replacement for deleted matter.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English cancellen

Origin: , from Old French canceller

Origin: , from Latin cancellāre, to cross out

Origin: , from cancellus, lattice

Origin: , diminutive of cancer, lattice

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Related Forms:

  • canˈcel·a·ble adjective
  • canˈcel·er noun

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