pneumococcus

(no̵̅o̅′mō käkəs, nyo̵̅o̅′-)

noun pl. pneumococci

a bacterium (Streptococcus pneumoniae) that is a cause of certain diseases, as pneumonia

Origin: ModL: see pneumo- & coccus

Related Forms:

See pneumococcus in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. pneu·mo·coc·ci (-kŏkˈsīˌ, -kŏkˈīˌ)
A nonmotile, gram-positive bacterium (Streptococcus pneumoniae) that is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia, associated with meningitis and other infectious diseases.

Related Forms:

  • pneuˌmo·cocˈcal (-kŏkˈəl) adjective

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