corynebacterium

noun

co·​ry·​ne·​bac·​te·​ri·​um ˌkȯr-ə-(ˌ)nē-bak-ˈtir-ē-əm How to pronounce corynebacterium (audio)
kə-ˌri-nə-
: any of a genus (Corynebacterium) of usually gram-positive nonmotile bacteria that occur as irregular or branching rods and include the causative agent of diphtheria
corynebacterial adjective

Examples of corynebacterium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Some the bacteria identified in the study include staphylococcus, corynebacterium, haemophilus and neisseria. Don Sweeney, miamiherald, 4 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek korynē club

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of corynebacterium was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near corynebacterium

Cite this Entry

“Corynebacterium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corynebacterium. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

corynebacterium

noun
cor·​y·​ne·​bac·​te·​ri·​um -ˈtir-ē-əm How to pronounce corynebacterium (audio)
1
capitalized : a genus of usually gram-positive, nonmotile bacteria that do not produce spores, occur as irregular or branching rods often banded with metachromatic granules, and include the causative agents of diphtheria and caseous lymphadenitis
2
plural corynebacteria -ē-ə How to pronounce corynebacterium (audio) : any bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium
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