saccharomyces

noun

sac·​cha·​ro·​my·​ces ˌsa-kə-rō-ˈmī-(ˌ)sēz 

: any of a genus (Saccharomyces of the family Saccharomycetaceae) of usually unicellular yeasts (such as a brewer's yeast) that are distinguished by their sparse or absent mycelium and by their facility in reproducing asexually by budding

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from sacchar- + -myces fungus, from Greek mykēs — more at myc-

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

saccharomyces

noun

sac·​cha·​ro·​my·​ces ˌsak-ə-rō-ˈmī-(ˌ)sēz 

1

capitalized : a genus of unicellular yeasts (as a brewer's yeast) of the family Saccharomycetaceae that are distinguished by their sparse or absent mycelium and by their facility in reproducing asexually by budding

2

plural saccharomyces : any yeast of the genus Saccharomyces