coccus

1 of 2

noun

coc·​cus ˈkä-kəs 

plural cocci ˈkä-ˌkī 

-ˌkē;

ˈkäk-ˌsī  -ˌsē 

: a spherical bacterium

coccal

ˈkä-kəl 

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, from Greek kokkos

Noun combining form

New Latin

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

coccus

noun

coc·​cus ˈkäk-əs 

plural cocci ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī  ˈkäk-(ˌ)(s)ē 

: a bacterium shaped like a sphere

coccal

ˈkäk-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

coccus

noun

coc·​cus ˈkäk-əs 

plural cocci

ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī also -(ˌ)(s)ē

1

: a spherical bacterium

2

: cochineal