Definition

A type of antibiotic that is made from a specific bacteria and is used to treat infections.

Example

The doctor prescribed oleandomycin to help fight the bacterial infection.

Conversation

I read about a new antibiotic called oleandomycin the other day.

Oh really? What does it do?

It’s supposed to be effective against certain infections, like other macrolide antibiotics.

That sounds interesting! I wonder how it compares to the ones we usually hear about.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Oleandomycin is derived from "olea" (from Latin, meaning olive) and "-domycin" (a suffix used in the names of antibiotics, derived from the Greek "mykes" meaning fungus). The word refers to an antibiotic derived from a strain of Streptomyces that is related to the olive tree.

Memory Tip

Think of 'olive' ('olea') as a natural source, and remember that 'oleandomycin' is an antibiotic derived from a fungus, linking the olive to its medicinal properties.

Visually Confused Words