coccus

¹

[ kok-uhs ]

noun

plural cocci [kok, -sahy, -see].

1. Bacteriology. a spherical bacterium.
2. Botany. one of the carpels of a schizocarp.

-coccus

²

1. a combining form representing coccus in compound words:

   streptococcus.

coccus

/ ˈkɒkəs; ˈkɒksɪk /

noun

1. any spherical or nearly spherical bacterium, such as a staphylococcus Compare bacillus spirillum
2. the part of a fruit that contains one seed and separates from the whole fruit at maturity
3. any of the scale insects of the genus Coccus

coccus

/ kŏk′əs /

, Plural cocci kŏk′sī,kŏk′ī

1. Any of various bacteria having a round or ovoid form such as streptococcus or staphylococcus , usually grouped in chains.

Derived Forms

• ˈcoccous, adjective
• ˈcoccoid, adjective

Other Words From

• coccal coc·cic [kok, -sik], adjective
• coccous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coccus¹

1755–65; < New Latin < Greek kókkos grain, seed, berry

Word History and Origins

Origin of coccus¹

C18: from New Latin, from Greek kokkos berry, grain