mycoplasma

noun

my·​co·​plas·​ma ˌmī-kō-ˈplaz-mə How to pronounce mycoplasma (audio)
plural mycoplasmas also mycoplasmata ˌmī-kō-ˈplaz-mə-tə How to pronounce mycoplasma (audio)
: any of a genus (Mycoplasma of the family Mycoplasmataceae) of pleomorphic gram-negative chiefly nonmotile bacteria that lack a cell wall and are mostly parasitic usually in mammals

called also pleuropneumonia-like organism

mycoplasmal adjective

Examples of mycoplasma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Then Munro caught a mycoplasma infection from her daughter. Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024 Medically known as mycoplasma pneumonia, this is a bacteria that causes respiratory tract infections, LaPook explained, adding there can be a range of no symptoms to mild and severe symptoms. Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2024 Because mycoplasma pneumonia is a bacterial infection, it can be treated with a course of antibiotics. Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2024 The disease was contributing to an increase in hospitalizations, along with mycoplasma pneumonia, WHO European regional officials said at a Jan. 16 press conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 27 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mycoplasma 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mycoplasma was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near mycoplasma

Cite this Entry

“Mycoplasma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mycoplasma. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

mycoplasma

noun
my·​co·​plas·​ma ˌmī-kō-ˈplaz-mə How to pronounce mycoplasma (audio)
1
capitalized : the type genus of the family Mycoplasmataceae containing minute pleomorphic gram-negative chiefly nonmotile bacteria that are mostly parasitic usually in mammals see pleuropneumonia sense 2
2
plural mycoplasmas also mycoplasmata -mət-ə How to pronounce mycoplasma (audio) : any bacterium of the genus Mycoplasma or of the family Mycoplasmataceae

called also pleuropneumonia-like organism, PPLO

mycoplasmal adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on mycoplasma

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