an antibiotic, CHNO, isolated from a soil bacterium (Streptomyces erythreus), used in treating various bacterial diseases
Origin:
erythro- + -mycin
See erythromycin in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
An antibiotic obtained from a strain of the actinomycete Streptomyces erythreus, effective against many gram-positive bacteria and some gram-negative bacteria.