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chlamydia

[kluh-mid-ee-uh]
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noun, plural chla·myd·i·ae [kluh-mid-ee-ee] /kləˈmɪd iˌi/.
  1. Microbiology. any coccoid rickettsia of the genus Chlamydia, parasitic in birds and mammals, including humans, and causing various infections, especially of the eyes, as trachoma, lungs, as psittacosis, and genitourinary tract, as urethritis or chlamydia.
  2. Pathology. Also called lymphogranuloma venereum. a widespread, often asymptomatic sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, a major cause of nongonococcal urethritis in men and pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy in women.
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Origin of chlamydia

1945; < New Latin < Greek chlamyd-, stem of chlamýs chlamys + New Latin -ia -ia
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for chlamydia

AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, clap, HIV, STD, VD, chancroid, chlamydia, crabs, scabies

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British Dictionary definitions for chlamydia

chlamydia

noun
  1. any Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Chlamydia, which are obligate intracellular parasites and are responsible for such diseases as trachoma, psittacosis, and some sexually transmitted diseases
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Word Origin for chlamydia

C20: New Latin, from Greek khlamus mantle + -ia
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for chlamydia

n.

type of genital infection, 1984, from the name of the bacteria that causes it (1945), which is formed from Latinized comb. form of Greek khlamys (genitive khlamydos) "short mantle, military cloak," of unknown origin, + -ia.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
chlamydia in Medicine

chlamydia

(klə-mĭd′ē-ə)
n. pl. chla•myd•i•ae (-ē-ē′)
  1. Any of several common, often asymptomatic, sexually transmitted diseases caused by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis.
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Related formschla•myd′i•al adj.

Chlamydia

(klə-mĭd′ē-ə)
n.
  1. A genus of coccoid, gram-negative microorganisms that are pathogenic to humans and animals, causing diseases such as conjunctivitis in cattle and sheep, and trachoma, nonspecific urethritis, and proctitis in humans.Bedsonia Miyagawanella
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
chlamydia in Science

chlamydia

[klə-mĭd′ē-ə]
Plural chlamydiae (klə-mĭd′ē-ē′)
  1. Any of various bacteria of the genus Chlamydia, several species of which cause common infections in humans and animals, including neonatal conjunctivitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, and sexually transmitted infections of the pelvis and urethra.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.