staph·y·lo·coc·cus (st f  -l -k k s)n. pl. staph·y·lo·coc·ci (-k ks , -kk) A spherical gram-positive parasitic bacterium of the genus Staphylococcus, usually occurring in grapelike clusters and causing boils, septicemia, and other infections. staph y·lo·coccal (-kkl), staphy·lo·coccic (-kks k, -kkk) adj. |
staphylococcus [ˌstæfɪləʊˈkɒkəs]
n pl -cocci [-ˈkɒkaɪ (US) -ˈkɒksaɪ]
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Microbiology) any spherical Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Staphylococcus, typically occurring in clusters and including many pathogenic species, causing boils, infection in wounds, and septicaemia: family Micrococcaceae Often shortened to staph
[from staphylo- (in the sense: like a bunch of grapes) + coccus so called because of their shape]
staphylococcal [ˌstæfɪləʊˈkɒkəl], staphylococcic [ˌstæfɪləʊˈkɒkɪk (US) -ˈkɒksɪk] adj
| staphylococcus (stf-l-kks) Plural staphylococci (st f-l-kks, -kk) Any of various bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus that are gram-positive cocci and are normally found on the skin and mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals. Pathogenic strains such as S. aureus commonly cause infections of the skin, bones, lungs and other organs. Some staphylococcal disease, such as food poisoning, is caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | staphylococcus - spherical Gram-positive parasitic bacteria that tend to form irregular colonies; some cause boils or septicemia or infections genus Staphylococcus - includes many pathogenic species |
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