diphtheroid

American  

[dif-thuh-roid, dip-] / ˈdɪf θəˌrɔɪd, ˈdɪp- /

adjective

Pathology.

1. resembling diphtheria, especially in the formation of a false membrane in the throat.

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noun

1. any bacterium, especially of the genus Corynebacterium, that resembles the diphtheria bacillus but does not produce diphtheria toxin.

Etymology

Origin of diphtheroid

First recorded in 1860–65; diphther(ia) + -oid

Example Sentences

Note the presence or absence of altered and unaltered vegetable fibres; pus cells, blood discs; cocci in groups or chains, diphtheroid bacilli, Gram negative bacilli or cocci, spores and acid fast bacteria.

From Project Gutenberg