pneumococcus

[ noo-muh-kok-uhs, nyoo‑ ]

noun

, plural pneu·mo·coc·ci [noo-m, uh, -, kok, -sahy, ‑see, nyoo‑].

1. a bacterium, Diplococcus pneumoniae, causing lobar pneumonia and associated with certain other diseases, as pericarditis and meningitis.

pneumococcus

/ ˌnjuːməʊˈkɒkəs /

noun

1. a spherical bacterium that occurs in the respiratory tract, esp the Gram-positive Diplococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia

Derived Forms

• ˌpneumoˈcoccal, adjective

Other Words From

• pneu·mo·coc·cal [noo-m, uh, -, kok, -, uh, l, nyoo‑], pneu·mo·coc·cic [noo-m, uh, -, kok, -sik, nyoo‑], pneu·mo·coc·cous [noo-m, uh, -, kok, -, uh, s, nyoo‑], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pneumococcus¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1885–90; pneumo- none, -coccus none

Example Sentences

In the case of pneumococcus, for example, immunizing children indirectly protects older adults by limiting transmission.

From Seattle Times

A patient could carry the influenza virus but also test positive for a bacterium such as pneumococcus, for example.

From Seattle Times

Victims of the flu often developed a secondary pneumonia caused by pneumococcus—an illness so rapid and fatal that doctors had termed it the “captain of the men of death.”

From Literature

Medicare Part B covers three vaccines completely: influenza, pneumococcus and, when indicated, hepatitis B.

From New York Times

Bisphosphonates lowered the risk even in people already vaccinated against seasonal flu and pneumococcus, two common causes of pneumonia.

From New York Times