Word Study
Coccus
CIDE DICTIONARY
Coccus, n. [NL., fr. Gr. grain, seed. See Cochineal.].
- One of the separable carpels of a dry fruit. [1913 Webster]
- A genus of hemipterous insects, including scale insects, and the cochineal insect (
Coccus cacti ). [1913 Webster] - A form of bacteria, shaped like a globule. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Coccus, n. (pl. cocci) any spherical or roughly spherical bacterium.
Derivative
coccal adj. coccoid adj.
Etymology
mod.L f. Gk kokkos berry
THESAURUS
Coccus
adenovirus, aerobe, aerobic bacteria, amoeba, anaerobe, anaerobic bacteria, bacillus, bacteria, bacterium, bug, disease-producing microorganism, echovirus, enterovirus, filterable virus, fungus, germ, gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, microbe, microorganism, mold, nonfilterable virus, pathogen, picornavirus, protozoa, protozoon, reovirus, rhinovirus, rickettsia, spirillum, spirochete, spore, staphylococcus, streptococcus, trypanosome, vibrio, virusFor further exploring for "Coccus" in Webster Dictionary Online