viomycin

noun

vio·​my·​cin ˌvī-ə-ˈmī-sᵊn How to pronounce viomycin (audio)
: a polypeptide antibiotic C25H43N13O10 that is produced by several soil actinomycetes (genus Streptomyces) and is administered in the form of its sulfate in the treatment of tuberculosis

Word History

Etymology

vio(let) + -mycin; from the color of the soil organism

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of viomycin was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near viomycin

Cite this Entry

“Viomycin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viomycin. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

viomycin

noun
vi·​o·​my·​cin ˌvī-ə-ˈmīs-ᵊn How to pronounce viomycin (audio)
: a basic polypeptide antibiotic that is produced by several soil actinomycetes of the genus Streptomyces (as S. puniceus) and is administered intramuscularly in the form of its sulfate C25H43N13O10·xH2SO4 in the treatment of tuberculosis especially in combination with other antituberculosis drugs
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!