streptococcus
nounUK /ˌstɹɛptəˈkɒkəs/ · US /ˌstɹɛptəˈkɑkəs/
Etymology Morphologically a compound of strepto- + -coccus. They grow in chains or pairs, thus the name — from Ancient Greek στρεπτός (streptós, “twisted, pliant”), like a chain. Compare the genus name Streptococcus.
1
A spherical, gram-positive bacterium of the genus Streptococcus. Although commonly found benignly in the human mouth and gut, and though many species are non-pathogenic, other species can cause diseases including strep throat and more serious conditions.
- Derived terms
- strep, strep throat, streptokinase
- Related terms
- coccus, streptococcal