polymyxin
|pol-y-mix-in|
C2
🇺🇸
/ˌpɒliˈmɪksɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˌpɒlɪˈmɪksɪn/
antibiotic from Bacillus polymyxa
Etymology
Etymology Information
'polymyxin' originates from the bacterium 'Bacillus polymyxa', where 'poly-' meant 'many' and 'myxa' meant 'mucus'.
Historical Evolution
'Bacillus polymyxa' was identified as a source of antibiotics, leading to the naming of 'polymyxin'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to the bacterium itself, but over time it evolved to refer to the antibiotics derived from it.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a group of antibiotics derived from the bacterium Bacillus polymyxa, effective against Gram-negative bacteria.
Polymyxin is often used to treat infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/29 09:41