streptomycin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareTechnical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “streptomycin” mean?
An antibiotic drug derived from a soil bacterium, used to treat bacterial infections, particularly tuberculosis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An antibiotic drug derived from a soil bacterium, used to treat bacterial infections, particularly tuberculosis.
A specific aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces griseus, notable for its historical importance as one of the first effective treatments for tuberculosis and other gram-negative bacterial infections.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Identical connotations of medical treatment, historical medical advancement, and specific pharmacology.
Frequency
Equally rare in general language but standard in medical contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “streptomycin” in a Sentence
[Patient] was treated with streptomycin for [Disease].Streptomycin is effective against [Bacterium].The doctor prescribed a course of streptomycin.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “streptomycin” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- streptomycin-resistant bacteria
- a streptomycin-based regimen
American English
- streptomycin-resistant strains
- streptomycin therapy
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in general business contexts. May appear in pharmaceutical company reports or drug patents.
Academic
Used in history of medicine, pharmacology, microbiology, and infectious disease research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation unless discussing specific medical history.
Technical
The primary register. Used in clinical notes, medical textbooks, pharmacological guides, and microbiological studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “streptomycin”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “streptomycin”
- Misspelling as 'streptomyacin', 'streptomysin'.
- Incorrect stress placement (stress is on 'my').
- Using it as a general term for any antibiotic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily used against tuberculosis and certain other gram-negative bacterial infections.
Its use has declined due to side effects (like ototoxicity) and drug resistance, but it remains a part of combination therapy for drug-resistant tuberculosis in some cases.
It was discovered in 1943 by American biochemists Selman Waksman, Albert Schatz, and Elizabeth Bugie.
No, it is a prescription-only medication, typically administered via injection in a clinical setting due to its potency and potential side effects.
An antibiotic drug derived from a soil bacterium, used to treat bacterial infections, particularly tuberculosis.
Streptomycin is usually technical / medical in register.
Streptomycin: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstrɛptə(ʊ)ˈmʌɪsɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstrɛptəˈmaɪsən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'strepto' (like strep throat, a bacterial infection) + 'mycin' (a common suffix for antibiotics like vancomycin). It's the 'mycin' that fights the 'strep' and similar bacteria.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable; the term is a technical label without common metaphorical mapping.
Practice
Quiz
Streptomycin is primarily classified as what type of drug?