English Explanatory Dictionary

penicillin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of a group of narrow-spectrum antibiotics obtained from Penicillium molds or synthesized, that have a beta-lactam structure and are active against gram-positive bacteria and used in the treatment of various infections and diseases.
  2. A blue mold of the genus Penicillium that produces penicillin.

Pronunciation

/ˌpɛn.ɪˈsɪl.ɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-penicillin.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-penicillin.wav

Word forms

penicillin penicillins

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pes- Proto-Indo-European *pes-ni-s Proto-Italic *peznis Latin pēnis Proto-Italic *-kelos Latin -culus Latin pēniculus Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -lus Latin -illum Latin pēnicillum Translingual -ium Translingual Penicillium Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ineclip. English -in English penicillin From translingual Penicillium + -in. Coined by Alexander Fleming after Penicillium notatum (now Penicillium chrysogenum), a fungus from which penicillin is obtained.

Derived words

allylmercaptomethylpenicillin aminopenicillin ampicillin benzathine penicillin benzathine penicillin G benzylpenicillin penicillin G carboxypenicillin -cillin dimethoxyphenylpenicillin fenbenicillin I'm allergic to penicillin isopenicillin Jewish penicillin nonpenicillin penam penicillamine penicillinase penicillin G benzathine penicillinic penicillinic acid penicillinize penicillin O penicillin VK penicilloic penicylinder penimepicycline pheneticillin phenoxymethyl penicillin phenoxymethylpenicillin penicillin V pirbenicillin procaine penicillin propicillin sulbenicillin ureidopenicillin
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