coccus

(redirected from coccous)
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.

-coccus

(word root) spherical bacterium
Examples of words with the root -coccus: streptococcus
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

coc·cus

 (kŏk′əs)
n. pl. coc·ci (kŏk′sī, kŏk′ī)
A bacterium having a spherical or spheroidal shape.

[New Latin, from Greek kokkos, grain, seed.]

coc′cal (kŏk′əl) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

coccus

(ˈkɒkəs)
n, pl -ci (-saɪ)
1. (Microbiology) any spherical or nearly spherical bacterium, such as a staphylococcus. Compare bacillus1, spirillum1
2. (Botany) the part of a fruit that contains one seed and separates from the whole fruit at maturity
3. (Animals) any of the scale insects of the genus Coccus
[C18: from New Latin, from Greek kokkos berry, grain]
ˈcoccoid, coˈcoidal, ˈcoccal, coccic adj
ˈcoccous adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

coc•cus

(ˈkɒk əs)

n., pl. -ci (-sī, -sē).
a spherical bacterium.
[1755–65; < New Latin < Greek kókkos grain, seed, berry]
coc′cal, coc′cic (-sɪk) adj.
coc′cous, adj.

-coccus

a combining form representing coccus in the names of bacteria: streptococcus.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

coc·cus

(kŏk′əs)
Plural cocci (kŏk′sī, kŏk′ī)
Any of various bacteria that are shaped like a sphere and are usually linked together to form chains.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.coccus - any spherical or nearly spherical bacteriacoccus - any spherical or nearly spherical bacteria
eubacteria, eubacterium, true bacteria - a large group of bacteria having rigid cell walls; motile types have flagella
staph, staphylococci, staphylococcus - spherical Gram-positive parasitic bacteria that tend to form irregular colonies; some cause boils or septicemia or infections
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

coc·cus

n. L. coco, bacteria de forma esférica.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

coccus

n (pl -ci) coco
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.