Definition

A type of antibiotic that is made from a modified form of cephalosporin and is used to treat serious infections caused by bacteria.

Example

The doctor prescribed cephalothin to help fight the patient's severe infection.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of cephalothin?

Yeah, I think it's an antibiotic, right?

Exactly! It's used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria.

That’s interesting! I didn't know there were so many different antibiotics.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cephalothin is formed from "cephalo-" (from Greek "kephalē", meaning head) and "-thin" (from the Greek "thēnē", meaning to stretch or extend). The word refers to a compound that is related to the head or has a structure that extends from the head, often used in a medical context.

Memory Tip

Think of 'head' ('cephalo-') and something that 'extends' ('-thin') — this helps you remember that cephalothin is related to a compound that has a structure extending from the head.

Visually Confused Words