Is griseofulvin used for bacterial infections?

No, it is specifically an antifungal agent and has no effect on bacteria.

How is griseofulvin typically administered?

It is almost always taken orally in tablet or liquid form.

Can griseofulvin be bought over the counter?

No, it is a prescription-only medication.

What is the origin of the name 'griseofulvin'?

It is derived from the name of the Penicillium griseofulvum mould from which it was first isolated.

Is “griseofulvin” formal?

Griseofulvin is usually scientific/medical in register.

How do you pronounce “griseofulvin”?

Griseofulvin: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrɪziːəʊˈfʊlvɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrɪzioʊˈfʊlvɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

griseofulvin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Rare

UK/ˌɡrɪziːəʊˈfʊlvɪn/US/ˌɡrɪzioʊˈfʊlvɪn/

Scientific/Medical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “griseofulvin” mean?

An antifungal antibiotic derived from Penicillium mold species, used to treat fungal infections.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

An antifungal antibiotic derived from Penicillium mold species, used to treat fungal infections.

An organic compound specifically used to treat ringworm and other dermatophyte infections of the skin, hair, and nails.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.

Connotations

Neutral scientific/medical term in both dialects.

Frequency

Equally rare and specialized in both dialects, used only in relevant professional contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “griseofulvin” in a Sentence

The doctor prescribed ~ for the infection.The patient is on a course of ~.The fungus was treated with ~.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

oral griseofulvingriseofulvin therapygriseofulvin treatmentmicrosize griseofulvin

medium

prescribe griseofulvinrespond to griseofulvindose of griseofulvin

weak

take griseofulvinfungus sensitive to griseofulvinside effects of griseofulvin

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in medical and pharmacological research papers and textbooks.

Everyday

Extremely rare; only used if a person is discussing a specific prescribed treatment.

Technical

Standard term in dermatology, mycology, and pharmacy.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “griseofulvin”

Strong

Fulvicin (brand name)

Neutral

antifungal medication

Weak

antimycoticfungicide

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “griseofulvin”

bacterial antibioticplacebo

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “griseofulvin”

Misspelling: 'griseofulv*e*n', 'griseofulv*ie*n'.
Mispronunciation with a hard 'g' as in 'go'.
Using it as a general term for medicine instead of a specific antifungal.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is specifically an antifungal agent and has no effect on bacteria.
: It is almost always taken orally in tablet or liquid form.
: No, it is a prescription-only medication.
: It is derived from the name of the Penicillium griseofulvum mould from which it was first isolated.
: An antifungal antibiotic derived from Penicillium mold species, used to treat fungal infections.
: Griseofulvin is usually scientific/medical in register.
: Griseofulvin: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrɪziːəʊˈfʊlvɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrɪzioʊˈfʊlvɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'Grey (griseo) fungus (fulvin) fighter' – it fights grey fungal infections.

Conceptual Metaphor

MEDICINE IS A TOOL / SPECIFIC KEY FOR A SPECIFIC LOCK.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

is particularly effective against dermatophytes such as Trichophyton species.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary medical use of griseofulvin?