micrococcus

American  

[mahy-kruh-kok-uhs] / ˌmaɪ krəˈkɒk əs /

noun

Bacteriology.

plural

micrococci

1. any spherical bacterium of the genus Micrococcus, occurring in irregular masses, many species of which are pigmented and are saprophytic or parasitic.

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micrococcus British  

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˈkɒkəs /

noun

1. any spherical Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Micrococcus : family Micrococcaceae

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Other Word Forms

• micrococcal adjective
• micrococcic adjective

Etymology

Origin of micrococcus

< New Latin (1872); see micro-, coccus

Example Sentences

In order to their destruction in a natural manner it seems necessary that they should germinate and develop into the anthrax micrococcus, bacillus, or mycelium.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

To cite only those whose origin is well known, we may mention the bacterium that causes charbon, the micrococcus of chicken cholera, and that of hog measles.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 446, July 19, 1884 by Various

The fowl cholera micrococcus, which has been weakened as just mentioned, may be restored to its original violence by inoculating it into a small bird, like a sparrow, and inoculating a second bird from this.

From The Story of Germ Life by Conn, H. W. (Herbert William)

A physician examined after death the body of a person who died from infection with a very virulent micrococcus and in the course of the examination slightly scratched a finger.

From Disease and Its Causes by Councilman, William Thomas

Either kill the micrococcus or heal the wound, and you are free from both.

From A journey in other worlds A romance of the future by Astor, John Jacob