tetracycline

[ te-truh-sahy-kleen, -klin ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. an antibiotic, C 22 H 24 H 2 O 8 , derived from chlortetracycline, used in medicine to treat a broad variety of infections.

tetracycline

/ -klɪn; ˌtɛtrəˈsaɪklaɪn /

noun

1. an antibiotic synthesized from chlortetracycline or derived from the bacterium Streptomyces viridifaciens: used in treating rickettsial infections and various bacterial infections. Formula: C 22 H 24 N 2 O 8

tetracycline

/ tĕt′rə-sī′klēn′,-klĭn /

1. A yellow crystalline compound, C 22 H 24 N 2 O 8 , synthesized or derived from several bacterial species of the genus Streptomyces and used as an antibiotic in bacterial infections. Other drugs of the tetracycline class have a similar chemical structure.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetracycline¹

First recorded in 1950–55; tetra- + cycl- + -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetracycline¹

C20: from tetra- + cycl ( ic ) + -ine ²

Example Sentences

The distance matters because pest controllers want to keep the free-flying GM mosquitoes away from outdoor sources of the antibiotic tetracycline.

From Science News

The mosquitoes are raised in a laboratory in the presence of tetracycline, an antibiotic that prevents the added gene from activating.

From Time

At Oxitec’s laboratory in the UK, the company genetically engineers the mosquitoes, giving the insects the “self-limiting” gene that makes the females dependent on the antibiotic tetracycline.

From Singularity Hub 

Gorman emphasized to Undark that the EPA and other regulators found no risk in using tetracycline in breeding their genetically-altered mosquitoes.

From Singularity Hub 

I didn't spot it until I found them wolfing down the tetracycline capsules in my samples case.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• penicillin