diplococcus

[dip-luh-kok-uhs]

noun

Bacteriology.

plural

diplococci 

1. any of several spherical bacteria occurring in pairs, as Diplococcus pneumoniae.

diplococcus

/ ˌdɪpləʊˈkɒksɪk, -ˈkɒkɪk, ˌdɪpləʊˈkɒkəs /

noun

1. any of various spherical Gram-positive bacteria that occur in pairs, esp any of the genus Diplococcus, such as D. pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia: family Lactobacillaceae

Other Word Forms

• diplococcal adjective
• diplococcic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diplococcus¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1886; diplo-, coccus

Example Sentences

In puerperal fever Dol�ris found the prevailing pathogenic organisms consisted of bacilli or rods, and micrococci or round bacteria in the varieties of micrococci, simple points; diplococci, double points; and chains or wreaths.

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This would no doubt tend to explain the phenomenon observed by Kuntze that milk is not so rapidly fermented by organisms of this group as when cultures of diplococci and yeasts are added.

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Cerebro-spinal Meningitis.—This form of meningitis, which is due to the diplococcus intracellularis, may occur sporadically, but is more frequently met with in an epidemic form.

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For instance, not a few healthy noses and throats contain the bacillus of diphtheria and the diplococcus of pneumonia.

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The joint lesions which accompany acute rheumatism or “rheumatic fever” are believed to be due to a diplococcus.

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