chlamydia

American  

[kluh-mid-ee-uh] / kləˈmɪd i ə /

noun

PLURAL

chlamydiae

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. Also called lymphogranuloma venereum.  Pathology.  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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chlamydia British  

/ kləˈmɪdɪə /

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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chlamydia Scientific  

/ klə-mĭd′ē-ə /

PLURAL

chlamydiae

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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Etymology

Origin of chlamydia

First recorded in 1945 in an article by Helen Jones, Geoffrey Rake, and Barbara Stearns as the proposed name of a taxon; 1966 in the current sense; from New Latin, from Greek chlamyd- (stem of chlamýs chlamys ) + New Latin -ia -ia

Compare meaning

How does chlamydia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chlamydia vs. gonorrhea

Example Sentences

There are also risks of youth passing unwanted sexually transmitted diseases, according to the bill’s analysis, which cited that 5 in 10 chlamydia cases in California are young people, disproportionately affecting people of color.

From Los Angeles Times

The treatment was more effective against chlamydia and syphilis than gonorrhea.

From Scientific American

Doxycycline, a cheap antibiotic that has been available for more than 40 years, is a treatment for health problems including acne, chlamydia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

From Washington Times

Other types of STI include chlamydia, genital warts, genital herpes and trichomoniasis.

From BBC

"While PreP is an amazing drug and should be used by those who engage in sex with frequently with different partners, it does not prevent the spread of other STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea."

From Salon

Related Words

• AIDS
• acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• gonorrhea
• herpes
• syphilis
• the clap
• venereal disease