Penicillin: meaning, definitions and examples

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penicillin

 

[ หŒpษ›nษชหˆsษชlษชn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medicine usage

Penicillin is a group of antibiotics that are used to treat various infections caused by bacteria. It works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to form cell walls, which ultimately leads to their death. First discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, penicillin has since become one of the most widely used antibiotics in medical history. Its effectiveness has made it a standard treatment for many bacterial infections, including pneumonia, strep throat, and syphilis.

Synonyms

antibiotic, antimicrobial, bactericide

Examples of usage

  • The doctor prescribed penicillin for the infection.
  • Penicillin was the first true antibiotic discovered.
  • Many people are allergic to penicillin.
  • The discovery of penicillin revolutionized medicine.

Translations

Translations of the word "penicillin" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น penicilina

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเฅ‡เคจเคฟเคธเคฟเคฒเคฟเคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Penicillin

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ penisilin

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะตะฝั–ั†ะธะปั–ะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ penicylina

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒšใƒ‹ใ‚ทใƒชใƒณ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท pรฉnicilline

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ penicilina

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท penisilin

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํŽ˜๋‹ˆ์‹ค๋ฆฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุจู†ุณู„ูŠู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ penicilin

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ penicilรญn

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้’้œ‰็ด 

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ penicilin

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ penicillin

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟะตะฝะธั†ะธะปะปะธะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒžแƒ”แƒœแƒ˜แƒชแƒ˜แƒšแƒ˜แƒœแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ penisilin

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ penicilina

Etymology

The term 'penicillin' originates from the Latin word 'penicillium,' referring to the mold used in its extraction. This mold, specifically 'Penicillium chrysogenum,' was first identified in Alexander Fleming's laboratory in 1928. He observed that the mold produced a substance that inhibited the growth of bacteria, leading to the development of penicillin as an antibiotic. The mass production of penicillin occurred during World War II, where it played a crucial role in treating infections among wounded soldiers, greatly reducing the mortality rate from bacterial infections. The historical significance of penicillin in medicine cannot be overstated, as it marked the beginning of the antibiotic era, changing the outcome of numerous infectious diseases that were previously deadly.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,053, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.