coagulase: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / C2Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “coagulase” mean?
An enzyme produced by some bacteria, notably Staphylococcus aureus, that promotes the clotting of blood plasma.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An enzyme produced by some bacteria, notably Staphylococcus aureus, that promotes the clotting of blood plasma.
In clinical microbiology, a key diagnostic marker used to differentiate pathogenic staphylococci (coagulase-positive) from typically non-pathogenic ones (coagulase-negative). Its action involves converting fibrinogen to fibrin, forming a clot.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
None beyond its strict technical definition in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both UK and US English, confined to professional medical/laboratory discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “coagulase” in a Sentence
The bacterium produces coagulase.Coagulase is produced by S. aureus.A test for coagulase was performed.The isolate was coagulase-positive.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coagulase” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The coagulase test is a key diagnostic procedure.
- We identified a coagulase-positive staphylococcus.
American English
- The coagulase test is a standard diagnostic tool.
- The culture was confirmed as coagulase-positive.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in microbiology, medical, and biomedical science papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in laboratory reports, clinical diagnoses, and medical guidelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coagulase”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coagulase”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coagulase”
- Misspelling as 'coagulaze' or 'coagulaease'.
- Using it as a general term for any clotting factor instead of the specific bacterial enzyme.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised term confined to microbiology and clinical medicine.
No, it is exclusively a noun. The related verb is 'coagulate'.
It describes a bacterium, usually Staphylococcus aureus, that produces the coagulase enzyme, which is a marker of increased pathogenicity.
No. Coagulase is a bacterial enzyme that hijacks the host's clotting mechanism. Vitamin K and clotting factors (like thrombin) are part of the body's natural coagulation cascade.
An enzyme produced by some bacteria, notably Staphylococcus aureus, that promotes the clotting of blood plasma.
Coagulase is usually technical / scientific in register.
Coagulase: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊˈæɡjʊleɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈæɡjəleɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COAGUL-ASE' – An ASE enzyme that causes COAGUL-ation (clotting).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of coagulase?