corynebacterium

noun

co·​ry·​ne·​bac·​te·​ri·​um ˌkȯr-ə-(ˌ)nē-bak-ˈtir-ē-əm 

kə-ˌri-nə-

: any of a genus (Corynebacterium) of usually gram-positive nonmotile bacteria that occur as irregular or branching rods and include the causative agent of diphtheria

corynebacterial

ˌkȯr-ə-(ˌ)nē-bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 

kə-ˌri-nə-

adjective

Examples of corynebacterium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some the bacteria identified in the study include staphylococcus, corynebacterium, haemophilus and neisseria. —Don Sweeney, miamiherald, 4 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek korynē club

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

corynebacterium

noun

cor·​y·​ne·​bac·​te·​ri·​um -ˈtir-ē-əm 

1

capitalized : a genus of usually gram-positive, nonmotile bacteria that do not produce spores, occur as irregular or branching rods often banded with metachromatic granules, and include the causative agents of diphtheria and caseous lymphadenitis

2

plural corynebacteria -ē-ə  : any bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium