aminoglycoside: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “aminoglycoside” mean?
A type of antibiotic that works by binding to bacterial ribosomes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of antibiotic that works by binding to bacterial ribosomes.
A class of potent, broad-spectrum antibiotics derived from bacteria of the Streptomyces and Micromonospora genera, characterized chemically by an amino sugar and a hexose ring. They are primarily used to treat serious aerobic Gram-negative bacterial infections but are often limited by their potential for nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or usage. The word is used identically in both medical and pharmacological contexts.
Connotations
Purely technical and clinical; carries connotations of potent treatment with significant side-effect profiles.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside medical, pharmacological, and microbiological contexts. Frequency is identical in both dialects within those fields.
Grammar
How to Use “aminoglycoside” in a Sentence
[The/An] aminoglycoside [is/was] administered [intravenously/intramuscularly].Resistance [to/against] aminoglycosides is increasing.The patient [received/was treated with] an aminoglycoside.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used. Potentially in pharmaceutical company reports or investor briefings.
Academic
Core term in medical, pharmacological, and microbiological literature, research papers, and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A doctor might explain it to a patient as 'a strong, intravenous antibiotic'.
Technical
The primary context. Used in clinical notes, treatment guidelines, laboratory reports, and pharmacological discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “aminoglycoside”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “aminoglycoside”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aminoglycoside”
- Misspelling: 'aminoglucoside', 'aminoglicoside', 'amino glycoside' (as two words).
- Mispronunciation: placing stress on the first syllable (A-mi-no...) instead of the third (...GLY-co...).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, aminoglycosides are primarily effective against aerobic Gram-negative bacteria but also show activity against some Gram-positive organisms, making them broad-spectrum.
They are poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. For systemic infections, they must be administered intravenously or intramuscularly.
The two major dose-limiting toxicities are nephrotoxicity (kidney damage) and ototoxicity (hearing loss and balance disorders).
Yes, common examples include gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, and streptomycin.
A type of antibiotic that works by binding to bacterial ribosomes.
Aminoglycoside is usually technical/scientific in register.
Aminoglycoside: in British English it is pronounced /əˌmiːnəʊˈɡlaɪkəʊsaɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌminoʊˈɡlaɪkoʊsaɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: AMINO (like amino acids, the building blocks) + GLYCO (sugar) + SIDE (on the side). It's an antibiotic built from amino sugars.
Conceptual Metaphor
A 'SABOTEUR IN THE FACTORY': The drug sabotages the bacterial cell's protein-manufacturing machinery (the ribosome).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary mechanism of action of aminoglycosides?