micrococcus

[mahy-kruh-kok-uhs]

noun

Bacteriology.

plural

micrococci 

1. any spherical bacterium of the genus Micrococcus, occurring in irregular masses, many species of which are pigmented and are saprophytic or parasitic.

micrococcus

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˈkɒkəs /

noun

1. any spherical Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Micrococcus : family Micrococcaceae

Other Word Forms

• micrococcal adjective
• micrococcic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of micrococcus¹

< New Latin (1872); micro-, coccus

Example Sentences

And all of the samples from the kitchens were found to have Staphylococcus and Micrococcus.

Read more on Salon

In people with weak immune systems, Micrococcus has been linked to lung infections, such as pneumonia and septic arthritis along with eye and heart infections.

Read more on Salon

They include Cutibacterium acnes, which feeds on the oil on our faces, and Micrococcus luteus, which contributes to the production of body odor by breaking down the compounds in our sweat.

Read more on New York Times

What Prof Nico Boon, Dr Chris Callewaert, and their colleagues, found was that a particularly smelly bacterium called Micrococcus grew in abundance on synthetic fibres, but didn't enjoy living on cotton or on skin.

Read more on BBC

DNA analysis revealed that Micrococcus bacteria were to blame.

Read more on Scientific American