coccus

1 of 2

noun

coc·​cus ˈkä-kəs How to pronounce coccus (audio)
plural cocci ˈkä-ˌkī How to pronounce coccus (audio)
-ˌkē;
ˈkäk-ˌsī How to pronounce coccus (audio) -ˌsē How to pronounce coccus (audio)
: a spherical bacterium
coccal adjective

-coccus

2 of 2

noun combining form

plural -cocci
: berry-shaped microorganism
micrococcus

Examples of coccus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The main ingredients in the Cough, Wheeze & Sneeze supplement are coccus cacti, lobaria pulmonaria, and hepar sulphuris calcareum. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coccus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, from Greek kokkos

Noun combining form

New Latin

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coccus was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near coccus

Cite this Entry

“Coccus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coccus. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

coccus

noun
coc·​cus ˈkäk-əs How to pronounce coccus (audio)
: a bacterium shaped like a sphere
coccal adjective

Medical Definition

coccus

noun
coc·​cus ˈkäk-əs How to pronounce coccus (audio)
plural cocci
ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī also -(ˌ)(s)ē
1
: a spherical bacterium
2

More from Merriam-Webster on coccus

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!