Definition

A type of bacterium that has a round or spherical shape.

Example

The doctor explained that coccus bacteria can cause various infections.

Conversation

Did you know that a coccus is a type of spherical bacterium?

Really? I had no idea bacteria could be that shape.

Yeah, they can be quite interesting to study in microbiology.

Sounds cool! I might look into it for my science project.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Coccus → The word is derived from the Greek "kokkos" (κόκκος), meaning grain or seed. In biological terms, it refers to a spherical bacterium, likening its shape to that of a grain or seed.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny 'grain' or 'seed' when you think of 'coccus' — it helps you remember that this term refers to round-shaped bacteria.

Visually Confused Words