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

Emmerling67 isolated, in addition to a yellow pigment-forming organism, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus lactis acidi, and several fungi, a small micrococcus capable of hydrolysing milk- and cane-sugar.

From The Bacillus of Long Life a manual of the preparation and souring of milk for dietary purposes, together with and historical account of the use of fermente by Douglas, Loudon

This disease is caused by a small micrococcus, the organisms joined in pairs.

From Disease and Its Causes by Councilman, William Thomas

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)

Either kill the micrococcus or heal the wound, and you are free from both.

From A journey in other worlds A romance of the future by Astor, John Jacob

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