actinomycin
|ac-ti-no-my-cin|
C2
🇺🇸
/ˌæk.tɪ.noʊˈmaɪ.sɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˌæk.tɪ.nəʊˈmaɪ.sɪn/
antibiotic from soil bacteria
Etymology
Etymology Information
'actinomycin' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aktis' meaning 'ray' and 'mykes' meaning 'fungus', combined with the suffix '-in' used for proteins and antibiotics.
Historical Evolution
'Actinomycin' was coined in the 20th century to describe a group of antibiotics derived from actinomycetes.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to a specific antibiotic, but now it encompasses a group of related compounds used in medical treatments.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a group of antibiotics derived from soil bacteria, used in research and chemotherapy.
Actinomycin is used in the treatment of certain types of cancer.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/30 09:36