Coccus
/ˈkɑkəs/Noun
A type of bacterium that has a spherical shape.
Streptococcus is a genus of coccus bacteria that can cause throat infections.
Often appears as...
- coccus bacteria
- cocci arrangement
Usage tips
Neutral
bacterial coccus, coccus bacteria, spherical coccus
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Bio Terminology
Understand that 'coccus' refers to a specific shape, not a type of bacteria; Example: It’s easy to confuse coccus with other shapes like bacillus.
Pro Tip 2/3Contextual Relevance
Recognize that when studying infections, knowing the shape of bacteria like cocci aids in identifying the causative agent; Example: Doctors use morphology in diagnosis.
Pro Tip 3/3Plural Awareness
Be aware of the plural form 'cocci' for multiple spheres, which often occurs in microbiological studies; Example: Discussions in journals frequently refer to cocci.
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