tetracycline

noun

tet·​ra·​cy·​cline ˌte-trə-ˈsī-ˌklēn 

-klən

: a yellow crystalline broad-spectrum antibiotic C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈ produced by streptomyces or synthetically

also : any of several chemically related antibiotics (such as doxycycline)

Did you know?

Most chemical names are made up of two or more Greek and Latin roots strung together. Thus, tetracycline, with its cycl- root from the Greek word for "circle", means "four-ringed"—that is, "consisting of four fused hydrocarbon rings". Antibiotics work against bacteria and other tiny organisms (but not viruses); tetracycline, which comes from a kind of soil bacteria, is one of the most used of the antibiotics. "Broad-spectrum" antibiotics work well on numerous organisms; thus, tetracycline has proved effective against acne, chlamydia, cholera, rickets, and various lung and eye infections, among many other conditions.

Examples of tetracycline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other risk factors include taking certain medications such as tetracycline, excessive vitamin A, tretinoin, steroids and growth hormone. —Danielle Wilhour, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2024

These keep tetracycline antibiotics from getting fully absorbed. —Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

These will be less effective if taken with tetracyclines. —Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

Certain medications such as oral accutane and tetracycline, both used to treat acne, can increase a person’s sun sensitivity, increasing their risk for sunburns and rashes. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 8 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary tetracyclic having four fused hydrocarbon rings + -ine entry 2

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tetracycline

noun

tet·​ra·​cy·​cline ˌte-trə-ˈsī-ˌklēn 

: a yellow crystalline antibiotic produced by a soil bacterium or made synthetically

Medical Definition

tetracycline

noun

tet·​ra·​cy·​cline ˌte-trə-ˈsī-ˌklēn  -klən 

: a yellow crystalline broad-spectrum antibiotic that is produced by a soil actinomycete of the genus Streptomyces (S. viridifaciens) or made synthetically and that is administered chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈·HCl

also : any of several chemically related antibiotics (as doxycycline)