penicillin

English

Etymology

From translingual Penicillium +‎ -in. Coined by Alexander Fleming after Penicillium notatum (now Penicillium chrysogenum), a fungus from which penicillin is obtained.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌpɛn.ɪˈsɪl.ɪn/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪlɪn

Noun

penicillin (countable and uncountable, plural penicillins)

  1. (pharmacology) 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. (mycology) A blue mold of the genus Penicillium that produces penicillin.

Derived terms

Translations

References

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

Swedish

Noun

penicillin n

  1. (pharmacology) penicillin

Declension

Declension of penicillin
nominative genitive
singular indefinite penicillin penicillins
definite penicillinet penicillinets
plural indefinite
definite

References