nocardia

[ noh-kahr-dee-uh ]

noun

, Bacteriology.

1. any of several filamentous or rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria of the genus Nocardia, certain species of which are pathogenic for humans and other animals.

Other Words From

• no·cardi·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nocardia¹

1905–10; < New Latin; after Edmond I.É. Nocard (1850–1903), French biologist; -ia