streptococcus

See also: Streptococcus

English

Streptococcus

Etymology

Morphologically a compound of strepto- +‎ -coccus. They grow in chains or pairs, thus the name — from Ancient Greek στρεπτός (streptós, “twisted, pliant”), like a chain. Compare the genus name Streptococcus.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌstɹɛptəˈkɒkəs/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌstɹɛptəˈkɑkəs/
  • Rhymes: -ɒkəs

Noun

streptococcus (plural streptococci)

  1. A spherical, gram-positive bacterium of the genus Streptococcus. Although commonly found benignly in the human mouth and gut, and though many species are non-pathogenic, other species can cause diseases including strep throat and more serious conditions.
    Synonyms: strep, (clippings) strepto

Derived terms

Translations

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