virginiamycin

American

[ver-jin-yuh-mahy-sin] / vərˌdʒɪn yəˈmaɪ sɪn /

noun

Pharmacology.

any of various antibacterial substances derived from the bacterium Streptomyces virginiae, used in antibiotics and in animal feed as a growth stimulant.

Etymology

Origin of virginiamycin

First recorded in 1960–65; from virginia(e), the specific epithet of the bacterium + -mycin ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At the time, Koch said it has no plans to discontinue the use of virginiamycin, which it says may be used to prevent a common intestinal infection in chicken.

From Reuters • Mar. 12, 2015

The Chicago-based chicken producer changed the language on its website after questions from Reuters about its use of virginiamycin, an antibiotic included in a class considered "highly important" to fighting infections in humans.

From Reuters • Mar. 12, 2015

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023