can•cel/ˈkænsəl/USA pronunciationv.,-celed, -cel•ing or (esp. Brit.)-celled, -cel•ling.
to make no longer valid, etc.; remove or call back:[~ + object]The general canceled all military leaves.
to decide or announce that (a planned event) will not take place; call off:[~ + object]She canceled the picnic.
Stamps to mark with lines or to put holes in (a check, postage stamp, etc.) so as to prevent reuse:[~ + object;often: be + ~-ed]The check had been canceled.
[~ + object] to balance; make up for: His sincere apology canceled his sarcastic remark.
Mathematics (in mathematics) to eliminate (a number or variable) by drawing a line through a factor that is common to both the denominator and numerator of a fraction or to equivalent terms on opposite sides of an equation:[~ + object]To reduce a fraction you cancel the factors that are common in the top and the bottom.
[~ + object] to cross out (words, etc.) by drawing a line through the item.
cancel out, to (cause to) balance or compensate for one another: [no object]The two opposing forces cancel out.[~ + object + out]The two armies cancel each other out.[~ + out + object]One effect of the force cancels out the other.
to close (an account) by crediting or paying all outstanding charges:He plans to cancel his account at the department store.
to eliminate or offset (a debit, credit, etc.) with an entry for an equal amount on the opposite side of a ledger, as when a payment is received on a debt.
Mathematicsto eliminate by striking out a factor common to both the denominator and numerator of a fraction, equivalent terms on opposite sides of an equation, etc.
to cross out (words, letters, etc.) by drawing a line over the item.
Printingto omit.
v.i.
to counterbalance or compensate for one another; become neutralized (often fol. by out):The pros and cons cancel out.
Mathematics(of factors common to both the denominator and numerator of a fraction, certain terms on opposite sides of an equation, etc.) to be equivalent; to allow cancellation.
n.
an act of canceling.
Printing
omission.
a replacement for an omitted part.
Medieval Latin cancellāre to cross out, Latin: to make like a lattice, derivative of cancellī grating, plural of cancellus; see cancellus
Middle English cancellen 1350–1400
can′cel•a•ble; [esp. Brit.,]can′cel•la•ble, adj. can′cel•er; [esp. Brit.,]can′cel•ler, n.
1. countermand, rescind. 3.7.Cancel,delete,erase,obliterate indicate that something is no longer to be considered usable or in force. To cancel is to cross something out by stamping a mark over it, drawing lines through it, or the like:to cancel a stamp, a word.To delete is to cross something out from written matter or from matter to be printed, often in accordance with a printer's or proofreader's symbol indicating the material is to be omitted:to delete part of a line.To erase is to remove by scraping or rubbing:to erase a capital letter.To obliterate is to blot out entirely, so as to remove all sign or trace of:to obliterate a record.
to order (something already arranged, such as a meeting or event) to be postponed indefinitely; call off
to revoke or annul: the order for the new television was cancelled
to delete (writing, numbers, etc); cross out
to mark (a cheque, postage stamp, ticket, etc) with an official stamp or by a perforation to prevent further use
(also intr) usually followed byout: to counterbalance; make up for (a deficiency, etc): his generosity cancelled out his past unkindness
to eliminate (numbers, quantities, or terms) as common factors from both the numerator and denominator of a fraction or as equal terms from opposite sides of an equation
slangto publicly cease to acknowledge (a person, organization, etc), esp on social media, in order to express disapproval of their activities or opinions
n
a new leaf or section of a book replacing a defective one, one containing errors, or one that has been omitted
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French canceller, from Medieval Latin cancellāre, from Late Latin: to strike out, make like a lattice, from Latin cancellī lattice, gratingˈcanceller, USˈcancelern
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