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