staphylococci

Variant of staphylococcus

staphylococcus definition

staphy·lo·coc·cus (staf′ə lō käk′əs)

noun pl. staphylococci -·coc′ci′ (-käk′sī′)

any of a genus (Staphylococcus) of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria that generally occur in irregular clusters or short chains: the pathogenic species (esp. S. aureus) are the cause of pus formation in boils, abscesses, etc.

Etymology: ModL: see staphylo- & -coccus

Related Forms:

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

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