micrococcus

American  

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

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.

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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

• micrococcal adjective
• micrococcic adjective

Etymology

Origin of micrococcus

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

Example Sentences

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)

When grown in organic infusions out of the animal body the anthrax-germ develops from micrococcus or bacillus into a long, branching, filamentous product, which in the presence of oxygen develops into spores.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

So in cases of mortification of the bag; in the very occurrence there is fair circumstantial evidence of the presence of erysipelas micrococcus or other germ which kills the local tissues.

From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry

The micrococcus which causes fowl cholera loses its power if it be cultivated in common culture media, care being taken to allow several days to elapse between the successive inoculations into new culture flasks.

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

A physician examined after death the body of a person who died from infection with a very virulent micrococcus and in the course of the examination slightly scratched a finger.

From Disease and Its Causes by Councilman, William Thomas