leptospire

noun

lep·​to·​spire ˈlep-tə-ˌspī(-ə)r 

: any of a genus (Leptospira) of slender aerobic spiral-shaped spirochetes that are free-living or parasitic in mammals

leptospiral

ˌlep-tə-ˈspī-rəl 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Leptospira, from Greek leptos + Latin spira coil — more at spire

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

leptospire

noun

lep·​to·​spire ˈlep-tə-ˌspī(ə)r 

: any spirochete of the genus Leptospira

called also leptospira