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erythromycin
noun
eryth·ro·my·cin
i-ˌrith-rə-ˈmī-sᵊn
: a broad-spectrum antibiotic C37H67NO13 produced by an actinomycete (Saccharopolyspora erythraea synonym Streptomyces erythraeus) and administered orally or topically
Examples of erythromycin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Susan’s father, James E. Fulton, was a pioneering dermatologist who helped to develop Retin-A and topical erythromycin to treat acne and with her mother founded Vivant Skin Care in Miami.
—Hilarie Sheets, ELLE Decor, 15 Feb. 2023
Its genome also contains other genes needed to produce erythromycin, and a related species of clam possesses these antibiotic genes as well.
—Byscience News Staff, science.org, 1 Dec. 2022
Some antibiotics, like erythromycin, bind to and shut down bacterial ribosomes, which are the factories that turn genes into proteins.
—Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2021
But some clams make their own erythromycin, a study has found—the first animals reported to possess this ability.
—Byscience News Staff, science.org, 1 Dec. 2022
Antibiotics are used to treat donovanosis, including azithromycin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
—Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2021
Instead, both the artificial and natural nests were rich in Pseudonocardiaceae and Streptomycetaceae, bacterial families that produce many common antibiotics, including erythromycin.
—Stephenie Livingston, Science | AAAS, 15 Sep. 2020
Some examples of topical antibiotics are erythromycin and clindamycin.
—Kristin Koch, Seventeen, 1 Aug. 2020
The antibiotics facing export limits are tinidazole, metronidazole, chloramphenicol, erythromycin salts, neomycin, clindamycin salts and ornidazole.
—Vindu Goel, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2020
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Word History
First Known Use
1952, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near erythromycin
Cite this Entry
“Erythromycin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erythromycin. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
erythromycin
noun
eryth·ro·my·cin
i-ˌrith-rə-ˈmī-sᵊn
: an antibiotic produced by a streptomyces
Medical Definition
erythromycin
noun
eryth·ro·my·cin
i-ˌrith-rə-ˈmīs-ᵊn
: a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic C37H67NO13 that is produced by an actinomycetous bacterium (Saccharopolyspora erythraea synonym Streptomyces erythraeus), resembles penicillin in antibacterial activity, and is used (as in the form of its estolate or stearate) to treat bacterial infections or sometimes infections caused by other microbes (as amoebas)
Note: Erythromycin may be administered orally, topically, or by injection.
More from Merriam-Webster on erythromycin
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about erythromycin
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