bacitracin
|bac-i-tra-cin|
/ˌbæsɪˈtreɪsɪn/
antibiotic from Bacillus
Etymology
'bacitracin' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Bacillus', where 'Bacillus' meant 'little rod' (the bacterial genus), combined with the antibiotic-forming suffix '-tracin' used in naming drug substances.
'bacitracin' was coined in the mid 20th century to name the antibiotic produced by Bacillus species and has remained the modern English word 'bacitracin'.
Initially, it meant 'an antibiotic substance derived from Bacillus', and over time it has retained this specific meaning referring to the polypeptide topical antibiotic.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a polypeptide antibiotic produced by Bacillus species, used mainly as a topical agent against gram-positive bacteria to prevent or treat minor skin infections.
Bacitracin ointment is commonly applied to minor cuts and scrapes to help prevent infection.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/25 08:32