leptospira

[ lep-tuh-spahy-ruh ]

/ ˌlɛp təˈspaɪ rə /

noun, plural lep·to·spi·rae [lep-tuh-spahy-ree] /ˌlɛp təˈspaɪ ri/, lep·to·spi·ras. Bacteriology.

any of several spirally shaped, aerobic bacteria of the genus Leptospira, certain species of which are pathogenic for human beings.

QUIZZES

Discover The Influence Of Portuguese On English Via This Quiz!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby leptospira

leptophyllous, leptorrhine, leptosomatic, leptosome, leptospermum, leptospira, leptospiral jaundice, leptospirosis, leptospiruria, leptosporangiate, leptotene

Origin of leptospira

< New Latin (1917), equivalent to lepto- lepto- + Latin spīra coil; see spire²

OTHER WORDS FROM leptospira

lep·to·spi·ral, adjective

Medical definitions for leptospira

Leptospira

[ lĕp′tō-spī′rə ]

n.

A genus of aerobic spirochetes of the order Spirochaetales, consisting of thin, tightly coiled cells, many species of which cause leptospirosis.