treponema

[ trep-uh-nee-muh ]

noun,plural trep·o·ne·mas, trep·o·ne·ma·ta [trep-uh-nee-muh-tuh]. /ˌtrɛp əˈni mə tə/.
  1. any of several anaerobic spirochetes of the genus Treponema, certain species of which are parasitic in and pathogenic for humans and warm-blooded animals.

Origin of treponema

1
1905–10; <New Latin: genus name <Greek trép(ein) to turn + -o--o- + nêma thread

Other words from treponema

  • trep·o·nem·a·tous [trep-uh-nem-uh-tuhs, -nee-muh-], /ˌtrɛp əˈnɛm ə təs, -ˈni mə-/, trep·o·ne·mal, adjective

Words Nearby treponema

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use treponema in a sentence

  • In 1905, Schaudinn discovered the syphilitic treponema in man.

  • Syphilis is caused by treponema pallidum, a small unicellular animal parasite.

    Being Well-Born | Michael F. Guyer
  • Postmortem examination always shows that the treponema has wrought wide-spread damage in the brain.

    Being Well-Born | Michael F. Guyer
  • This disease is caused by a microorganism known as the spirochaeta pallida or treponema pallidum of Schaudinn and Hoffmann.

British Dictionary definitions for treponema

treponema

treponeme (ˈtrɛpəniːm)

/ (ˌtrɛpəˈniːmə) /


nounplural -nemas, -nemata (-ˈniːmətə) or -nemes
  1. any anaerobic spirochaete bacterium of the genus Treponema, such as T. pallidum which causes syphilis

Origin of treponema

1
C19: from New Latin, from Greek trepein to turn + nēma thread

Derived forms of treponema

  • treponematous (ˌtrɛpəˈnɛmətəs), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012