novobiocin

noun

no·​vo·​bi·​o·​cin ˌnō-və-ˈbī-ə-sən How to pronounce novobiocin (audio)
: a weak dibasic acid C31H36N2O11 that is highly toxic to humans and is sometimes used as an antimicrobial drug in some serious cases of staphylococcic and urinary tract infection

Word History

Etymology

novo- (perhaps modification of Latin niveus snowy, specific epithet of the bacterium Streptomyces niveus) + bi- + -mycin

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of novobiocin was in 1956

Dictionary Entries Near novobiocin

novo-

novobiocin

Novocain

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Cite this Entry

“Novobiocin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/novobiocin. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

novobiocin

noun
no·​vo·​bi·​o·​cin ˌnō-və-ˈbī-ə-sən How to pronounce novobiocin (audio)
: a highly toxic antibiotic that is a weak dibasic acid C31H36N2O11 and is used in some serious cases of staphylococcal and urinary tract infection
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