erythromycin

noun

eryth·​ro·​my·​cin i-ˌrith-rə-ˈmī-sᵊn 

: a broad-spectrum antibiotic C₃₇H₆₇NO₁₃ produced by an actinomycete (Saccharopolyspora erythraea synonym Streptomyces erythraeus) and administered orally or topically

Examples of erythromycin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Susan’s father, James E. Fulton, was a pioneering dermatologist who helped to develop Retin-A and topical erythromycin to treat acne and with her mother founded Vivant Skin Care in Miami. —Hilarie Sheets, ELLE Decor, 15 Feb. 2023

Its genome also contains other genes needed to produce erythromycin, and a related species of clam possesses these antibiotic genes as well. —Byscience News Staff, science.org, 1 Dec. 2022

Some antibiotics, like erythromycin, bind to and shut down bacterial ribosomes, which are the factories that turn genes into proteins. —Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2021

But some clams make their own erythromycin, a study has found—the first animals reported to possess this ability. —Byscience News Staff, science.org, 1 Dec. 2022

Antibiotics are used to treat donovanosis, including azithromycin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. —Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2021

Instead, both the artificial and natural nests were rich in Pseudonocardiaceae and Streptomycetaceae, bacterial families that produce many common antibiotics, including erythromycin. —Stephenie Livingston, Science | AAAS, 15 Sep. 2020

Some examples of topical antibiotics are erythromycin and clindamycin. —Kristin Koch, Seventeen, 1 Aug. 2020

The antibiotics facing export limits are tinidazole, metronidazole, chloramphenicol, erythromycin salts, neomycin, clindamycin salts and ornidazole. —Vindu Goel, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

erythromycin

noun

eryth·​ro·​my·​cin i-ˌrith-rə-ˈmī-sᵊn 

: an antibiotic produced by a streptomyces

Medical Definition

erythromycin

noun

eryth·​ro·​my·​cin i-ˌrith-rə-ˈmīs-ᵊn 

: a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic C₃₇H₆₇NO₁₃ that is produced by an actinomycetous bacterium (Saccharopolyspora erythraea synonym Streptomyces erythraeus), resembles penicillin in antibacterial activity, and is used (as in the form of its estolate or stearate) to treat bacterial infections or sometimes infections caused by other microbes (as amoebas)

Note: Erythromycin may be administered orally, topically, or by injection.