streptococcus
part of speech
noun (a streptococcus; plural streptococci)
meaning for a pupil
(science, medicine) Streptococcus is a type of round bacteria that grow in chains. Some kinds live harmlessly in us; others cause illnesses such as strep throat, scarlet fever and some skin and ear infections. tree →
sense in the lessons
Science and health: doctors can test for «strep» with a throat swab; infections are usually treated with antibiotics, and you must finish the course. Washing hands and covering coughs helps stop the spread. Under a microscope streptococci look like strings of beads. Short everyday word: «strep» (strep throat, US).
examples
- Streptococcus bacteria look like chains of beads. tree →
- The doctor tested for streptococcus with a throat swab. tree →
- Strep throat is caused by streptococcus. tree →
- Scarlet fever is caused by a kind of streptococcus. tree →
- Streptococci are passed on by coughs and sneezes. tree →
- Antibiotics can kill streptococcus bacteria. tree →
note
Said «strep-tuh-KOK-us». Plural: streptococci («strep-tuh-KOK-sye» or «-KOK-ee»). Often shortened to «strep». Antibiotics work on bacteria like these, not on viruses like colds.
In the corpora
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «streptococcus» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.