Dictionary
strep•to•coc•cus
Pronunciation: (strep"tu-kok'us), [key]—
n.,
—pl. -coc•ciPronunciation: (-kok'sī, -sē). [key]
Bacteriol.
any of several spherical or oval bacteria of the genus
Streptococcus, occurring in pairs or chains, certain species of which are pathogenic for humans, causing scarlet fever, tonsillitis, etc.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.