micrococcus

American  

[mahy-kruh-kok-uhs] / ˌmaɪ krəˈkɒk əs /

noun

Bacteriology.

micrococci plural

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

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micrococcus British  

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˈkɒkəs /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• micrococcal
  adjective
• micrococcic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• micrococci
  plural

Etymology

Origin of micrococcus

< New Latin (1872); see micro-, coccus

Example Sentences

To cite only those whose origin is well known, we may mention the bacterium that causes charbon, the micrococcus of chicken cholera, and that of hog measles.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 446, July 19, 1884 by Various

When, however, we come to fixing upon the particular bacillus, or micrococcus, there is a wide divergence of opinion, some six or seven different eminent investigators having each his favorite candidate for the doubtful honor.

From Preventable Diseases by Hutchinson, Woods

The fowl cholera micrococcus, which has been weakened as just mentioned, may be restored to its original violence by inoculating it into a small bird, like a sparrow, and inoculating a second bird from this.

From The Story of Germ Life by Conn, H. W. (Herbert William)

Petrone believes it was due to a chromogenic micrococcus, and relieved the patient by the use of a five per cent solution of caustic potash.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

There was the bacillus anthracis; there was the micrococcus; there was the Bacterium termo, and the Bacterium lactis—that's what turns the goat milk sour even to this day, Hare-Lip; and there were Schizomycetes without end.

From The Scarlet Plague by Grant, Gordon