penicillin Hear it!

penicillin definition

peni·cil·lin (pen′i sil′in)

noun

any of a group of isomeric, antibiotic compounds with the general formula CHNOSR, obtained from the filtrates of certain molds (esp., Penicillium notatum and P. chrysogenum) or produced synthetically

Etymology: < penicillium + -in

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.