penicillin

English

Etymology

Coined by Alexander Fleming after New Latin Penicillium notatum (now Penicillium chrysogenum), a fungus from which penicillin is obtained.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌpɛnɪˈsɪlɪn/

Noun

penicillin (countable and uncountable, plural penicillins)

  1. (pharmacology) Any of a group of narrow-spectrum antibiotics obtained from Penicillium molds or synthesized; they have a beta-lactam structure; most are active against gram-positive bacteria and used in the treatment of various infections and diseases.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading


Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin Penicillium

Noun

penicillin n (definite singular penicillinet, indefinite plural penicillin, definite plural penicillina or penicillinene)

  1. penicillin

References


Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin Penicillium

Noun

penicillin n (definite singular penicillinet, indefinite plural penicillin, definite plural penicillina)

  1. penicillin

References

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