actinomycetes
|ac-ti-no-my-ce-tes|
🇺🇸
/ˌæk.tɪ.noʊ.maɪˈsiːtiːz/
🇬🇧
/ˌæk.tɪ.nəʊ.maɪˈsiːtiːz/
(actinomycete)
bacteria resembling fungi
Etymology
'actinomycetes' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'aktis' meaning 'ray' and 'mykes' meaning 'fungus', referring to their radiating filamentous structure.
'actinomycetes' changed from the Greek word 'aktinomykes' and eventually became the modern English word 'actinomycetes'.
Initially, it referred to 'ray fungus', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a group of bacteria with a filamentous structure'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a group of gram-positive bacteria that form branching filaments and are found in soil and water. They are known for their role in decomposing organic matter and producing antibiotics.
Actinomycetes are crucial in the decomposition of organic material in soil.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/06 19:34